The Cross River State Government (CRSG) has intensified efforts towards achieving lasting peace between Ebom and Ebijakara communities in Abi Local Government Area, as traditional leaders of both communities pledged their cooperation and support for the government’s intervention.
The renewed commitment was made on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during a field verification exercise by the Technical Committee constituted by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, on November 3, 2026, to establish the facts surrounding the lingering crisis and facilitate the peaceful resettlement of the Ebijakara people in their ancestral land following their displacement two decades ago.
Leading the exercise, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Chairman of the Technical Committee, Ededem Ani, Esq., conveyed the goodwill of the Deputy Governor and reaffirmed the state government’s determination to resolve the dispute, restore peace, guarantee the safety of residents and establish a sustainable framework for peaceful coexistence.
He explained the committee’s mandate and emphasised the importance of community cooperation, particularly in the technical assessment of the disputed territories. He also highlighted the role of the State Surveyor-General and his team in determining the geographical and topographical features of the affected areas.
In separate remarks, the Clan Head of Ebom, HRH Ovai Robert Etu, welcomed the government’s intervention, expressed appreciation for its commitment to resolving the crisis and reaffirmed the Ebom people’s desire for peace, pledging their support and cooperation towards the successful completion of the committee’s assignment.
Similarly, the Acting Clan Head of Ebijakara, HRH Elder Chief John B. Oharekpe, expressed his community’s commitment to lasting peace and harmony, assuring the government of their cooperation and support towards a successful resolution of the crisis and the peaceful resettlement of their people.
The field verification exercise marks another significant step in the state government’s peacebuilding efforts, providing an opportunity for firsthand assessment of the affected territories and the issues underpinning the longstanding dispute.
Other members of the delegation included the Senior State Security Adviser, Major General O.U. Obono (rtd); Permanent Secretary, Conflict Resolution and Management Department in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Lucy Bassey, Esq.; 13 Brigade Garrison Commander, Lt. Col. B.M. Ukpen; Deputy Commissioner of Police, J.H. Anga; Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Kingsley E. Adolf; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Sunday Achunekang, among others.
Highlight of the exercise was the deployment of specialised surveying equipment and a drone by the State Surveyor-General, Surv. Patrick Edet Bassey, to capture relevant geographical data of the Ebom and Ebijakara territories. The committee also conducted physical inspections of the beaches in both communities to obtain firsthand information on the terrain, topography, boundaries and land claims, providing critical technical insights to support the government’s efforts towards a lasting and peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit, Government House, Calabar