Sunday March 29, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng

By Emem BRANDY

The Ibeno Clan Council of Akwa Ibom State has strongly condemned a recent press release issued by Afigh Iwaad Ekid titled “Ijaw Youth Council’s Rhetoric: A Caution Against Provocative And Bridge of Boundaries,” describing it as misleading, provocative and capable of igniting tension in the state.

In a statement issued by the Secretary of the Council, Chief Udofia Okon Udofia at Upenekang on Sunday, the council said it “vehemently condemn the statement credited to the leadership of Afigh Iwaad Ekid regarding the location of the QIT Terminal and other territorial assertions within Ibeno Local Government Area.”



The council maintained that any claim suggesting otherwise were false and an attempt to distort established facts.

“We wish to state unequivocally that Akwa Ibom State has only one official and legally recognized map, which clearly defines all Local Government Areas, including Ibeno LGA, and enumerates all 25 officially recognized villages within Ibeno,” the statement read.



It further stressed that no part of Ibeno had ever been ceded to another local government area at any time in history, noting that “all boundaries within Akwa Ibom State are constitutionally and legally binding, and any attempt to distort or misrepresent these facts is misleading, unproductive and unacceptable.”

The Clan Council issued a stern warning to the leadership of Afigh Iwaad Ekid and other groups, urging them to desist from making statements capable of causing confusion or threatening peace in the state.



“We caution particularly the leadership of Afigh Iwaad Ekid and those seeking to propagate confusion or advance narratives that question the territorial integrity of Akwa Ibom State to desist forthwith,” Udofia stated.

The council also warned against what it described as unlawful directives to companies operating within Ibeno territory, insisting that such action is an insult to Ibeno leadership and her people and would be resisted.



“Attempts to claim lands or issue directives to companies operating within Ibeno land and the state in general under any guise are entirely insults lacking merit and will be resisted in accordance with the law,” the statement added.

While calling for restraint, the council urged stakeholders, including the International President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Obongiwaad (Capt.) Willie Mbong, and his Secretary, Iwaad (Obong) Umana Umana, to pursue grievances through lawful and peaceful channels.



“Grievances must be pursued through legitimate, legal and non-provocative channels,” the council emphasized, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could undermine peaceful coexistence.

The statement also referenced recent tensions in the area, alleging attempts by “unscrupulous elements” in collaboration with an oil company to erect “illegal signposts” within Ibeno territory, describing such actions as a “drama” that would be decisively addressed.



However, the council’s position comes amid lingering controversy surrounding the Akwa Ibom State Map Establishment Law 2023, signed under former governor Udom Emmanuel.

The law, which illegally redefined territorial boundaries within the state, has faced stiff opposition from several coastal communities, including Ibeno, Mbo, Eastern Obolo and Ikot Abasi.
Stakeholders from these areas, particularly among the Obolo ethnic group, who have consistently rejected the remapping, alleging that it was politically motivated and skewed to favour certain interests, especially in relation to oil-producing areas and benefits tied to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The dispute has reportedly led to protests, heightened tensions and legal battles.

In 2023, affected communities instituted legal action against the state government, challenging the legitimacy of the remapping exercise. There have also been reports of previous court interventions halting similar efforts.

As of 2025, community voices in Ibeno and neighbouring coastal LGAs continue to express dissatisfaction, indicating that the matter remains unresolved and sensitive.

The Ibeno Clan Council maintained that, land ownership in the area dates back to pre-colonial times, underscoring what it described as well-established historical roots.

The Council therefore urged Afigh Iwaad Ekid and any other dissenting groups to present credible records or documentary evidence to substantiate their claims.

It further called on Ekid groups and individuals to desist from what it termed the dissemination of misleading historical narratives, questioning their withdrawal from the appeal case they had instituted against Ibeno at the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division on the land issue.

The Council also criticized their rejection of the state government’s peace committee, particularly when they were requested to come out and present supporting records.

According to the Council, Ekid again rejected it and now asking what are they really looking for; “War or Causing Crises Every Time”?.

He noted that, it is inappropriate for any group to conceal its position behind socio-cultural platforms or unions, while engaging in what it described as ethnic-driven rhetoric, stressing that verifiable facts and historical truth remain evident and cannot be obscured.

Despite these disputes, the Ibeno Clan Council reiterated its commitment to peace, order and the protection of its territorial integrity, warning that any further attempts to distort facts or threaten harmony in the area would be “taken seriously and addressed decisively.”