After 20 years in exile, Cross River community seeks security cover for return

After two decades of displacement, residents of Ebijakara community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State have appealed to the state government to provide security cover to enable their return to ancestral homes.

The community, which was forced to flee following protracted communal clashes in the Bahamono axis, said its people remain scattered across neighbouring settlements despite years of relative calm.

Leaders of the community made the appeal during a radio discussion on Pulse of Unity, a FAD FM programme in Calabar, where they stressed the urgency of government-backed resettlement.

Speaking on the programme, a community leader, Samuel Ogbodum, said although peace efforts had reduced tensions, displaced residents still require security assurances before returning.

He disclosed that the community had formally notified the state government and security agencies of its plan to return on April 15, 2026, urging authorities to deploy adequate protection.

“We have written to the government and security agencies to inform them of our intention to return to our ancestral home. What we are asking for now is adequate security presence to give our people the confidence to move back peacefully,” he said.

Another representative, Ita Ben Itu, said the peace process had reached a critical stage requiring direct government intervention.

According to him, while traditional rulers and peace groups had sustained dialogue over the years, only firm government backing can guarantee a safe and lasting resettlement.

Community leaders also cited unresolved land disputes and restricted access to farmlands as lingering triggers of the conflict, noting that past intervention efforts by successive administrations were not fully implemented.

They, however, expressed optimism that the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu would ensure a peaceful return of displaced persons.

The programme, hosted by Ukorebi Esien and Dr. Efio-Ita Nyok, highlighted the role of dialogue, mediation and inclusive engagement in preventing renewed violence and sustaining peace across communities in the state.

After 20 years in exile, Cross River community seeks security cover for return