BREAKING... Tension At Ikot Ansa As Armed Thugs Set To Invade Community Over Disputed 369 Hectares of Land
By Our Reporter
There is palpable fear and tension at Ikot Ansa in Calabar Municipality of Cross River state as armed thugs are said to be set to invade the community and forcefully take over the disputed 369 hectares of land.
The armed thugs are said to be hired by factional leaders who are laying clam to the ownership to the disputed parcel of land at CICI axis of the community.
One faction is allegedly led by the Qua clan head, Ntol Paul Asim Ita and the Secretary, Felix Eyo while the other faction is led by Ntoe Lawrence Nyong, Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso and Ntufam Donatus Etim.
Sources close to the community confided in THE BEAGLE NEWS that the two warring factions have been in court since 2021 following the acquisition of the land by Cross River state government for the purpose of Calabar International Convention Centre, golf course, CICC Hotels, International Hospitals and residential estates.
The sources disclosed that government did not pay compensation because the government was to give the community a stake in the business and governemnt subsequently released about 29 hectares of the acquired land to the Ikot Ansa, Qua clan in 2019 in lieu of its stake in the business.
On inspection of land, the community found out that the portion given to them was a swampy area and demanded for a dry upland, but the community did not get favourable response from the governemnt, leading to litigation, division and acrimony among community leaders.
And determined to get their due, Ntoe Lawrence Nyong, Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso and Ntufam Donatus Etim (claimants) on behalf of Nkonib (Ikot Ansa Clan) instituted a case in Suit No.HC/314/2021 with Governemnt of Cross River State, the Attorney General, Commissioner For Lands, Summit Hills Estate Development Services Ltd, Faithplant Global International Services Ltd and Incorporated Trustees of Roaches Foundation as defendants and Ntoe- Elect Ntol Paul Asim Ita, Ntoe Augustine Bassey Edem, Esinjo, Francis Ekpenyong Iso, Esinjo Vincent Ansa Itu Okon Ansa and Ntufam Felix Eyo Iso as applicants/parties seeking to be joined for themselves and on behalf of Nkonib (Ikot Ansa, Qua Clan).
However, Hon. Justice B. Ebuta in one of his rulings, dismissed the notion filed by the applicants "seeking to join the matter claiming they're the majority neither are they records to show that the Nkonib Caln had withdrawn their representative capacity of the claimants, except they say so of the applicants."
He further ruled that there are counter affidavits that the claimants, Lawrence Nyong, Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso and Ntufam Donatus Etim, had in previous matters represented the said community.
Again, in a consent judgement, Justice Ebuta in 2022 ruled among others "that the state government shall release 23 hectares of prime dry upland and the 23 hectares os independent of the 29 hectares of swam and ravine land earlier released bringing to the total to 52,864 hectares acquired by the claimants and "that state government shall provide infrastructures on the 52.846 hectares of land released to the claimants community."
The Court further ruled that "all private allottees of any portion of the 362.715 hectares of land remaining shall be sub-tenants of the claimants community at the rate of N100 per square meter yearly and renewable every year from January 1, 2022, which royalty shall be reviewed 100 percent every ten years."
Findings by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that the above judgements did not go down well with the defendants, especially the governemnt, and applicants and have since been allegedly plotting how to forestall implementation of Court rulings with regard the disputed land. An inside community source hinted THE BEAGLE NEWS that they have been series of subterranean meetings among some litigants who lost out with a view to causing breach of public peace and disqaffection among the Ikot Ansa leaders.
The source further hinted that some armed men, said to be hired by a faction, have been allegedly parading the disputed area and may likely invade and forcefully take full occupation of the disputed land any time.
He equally revealed that the other faction is not sleeping as they have also made a concrete arrangement to counter the other people.
This development, the source said, have heightened tension among residents of the community even as some prominent persons are said to have relocated their families to a safer community in case of unexpected attack.
A community leader, Agbor Agbor, who confirmed that there is tension in the community, called on government and security agencies to brace up and ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the metropolis.
Agbor wonders why some people should not abide by court judgement as it's very clear and for the benefit of the entire community
