Investigation: How Local Dispute Over Oil Palm Plantation Led To Bloodshed In Cross River Erei Communities
The Erei-speaking communities in the Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have been engulfed in a devastating war for five years, with no resolution in sight. Over 150 people, mainly young men, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict over land ownership and boundary disputes, according to Gabriel Ukam Iyam, the clan head of ten Erei communities.
The root of the crisis lies in a dispute over land covering Ugbeke, Imuopia, and Odumina, part of the Erei Oil Palm Plantation Farm Settlement Project. Initially managed through local community arrangements, the land was leased to African Stone Works Ltd. by the Egbor community in 2018, sparking tension among neighboring communities, particularly Urugbam.
Efforts to resolve the dispute through meetings and police intervention failed, leading to violent clashes. The involvement of armed vigilantes hired by African Stone Works Ltd. escalated the situation, resulting in a deadly gun battle. Subsequent retaliatory attacks claimed numerous lives and displaced hundreds of people.
The state’s intervention, including the establishment of a military base, has only temporarily deterred further violence. Basic education in the region has suffered, with children forced to learn under mango trees due to destroyed school buildings.
The lack of amenities like electricity, clean water, and proper sanitation compounds the suffering of the affected communities. The absence of a major road connecting the area to the main highway exacerbates transportation difficulties.
Calls for peace and government intervention echo across the communities, emphasizing the urgent need for resolution and assistance in rebuilding. However, despite promises of support, the conflict persists, leaving residents in a state of despair and uncertainty.
In conclusion, the protracted conflict in the Erei-speaking communities of Cross River State underscores the urgent need for sustainable peace-building efforts and comprehensive support from the government to address the root causes of the crisis and facilitate the reconstruction of affected communities.
Sahara Reporters
