Hundreds of women and school children from Biakpan community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State have protested against alleged police harassment, destruction of farm produce, and the continued occupation of their community by security operatives.

The protesters, mostly mothers and pupils from nearby primary and secondary schools, said policemen deployed to the area have prevented them from going to their farms and schools since Monday, accusing the officers of intimidation and excessive force.

The security deployment reportedly followed the burning of a ₦4.5 billion, 4,000-capacity auditorium known as The Legacy Hall built by the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star in Biakpan.

The hall, constructed in 2018 for the religious organisation’s annual pilgrimage, was allegedly set ablaze by youths from the neighbouring Etono 2 community, who claim ownership of the land where the structure sits.

The arson has reignited the long-standing land dispute between Biakpan and Etono communities, which has spanned several decades and resulted in the loss of lives and property.

The conflict, which reached the Supreme Court years ago, was decided in favour of Biakpan.
Following the recent incident, Etono community reportedly petitioned authorities, alleging that Biakpan residents were stockpiling weapons at the Brotherhood’s auditorium. In response, police and soldiers were deployed to the area.

However, Biakpan residents say the operation has turned punitive. The women claimed that security operatives destroyed their markets and goods, harassed them, and barred their children from attending school.

“This is not the mandate they were sent to enforce,” lamented Mrs. Egwu Izim, one of the protesters. “We are not the aggressors. Why have they stopped our children from going to school, scattered our market, and beaten up our women?”

The community accused the police of bias for not extending the same operation to Etono, whom they alleged sparked the latest crisis.

In response, an Etono chief, Mr Ajah Ekpezu, denied that his people were the aggressors, claiming that Biakpan had long used its larger population and influence to dominate Etono.

Reacting to the controversy, the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Mr Rashid Afegbua, denied allegations of bias or harassment. He said the police presence in Biakpan was purely to maintain peace and prevent further violence.

Speaking during a visit by the legal adviser of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, in Calabar, Afegbua condemned the burning of the facility of the religious organisation and assured that investigations were ongoing to identify those responsible.

Legal expert, Justice Ahiakwo vehemently denied that his client, which he said has consistently preached peace, love, forgiveness, humanitarianism and spent resources to demonstrate same over several decades, could be accused of having anything to do with communal conflicts let alone stockpiling weapons.

He appealed to the police authorities to identify the culprits.

Women, children protest police alleged harassment, occupation of Biakpan