Tension is rising in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State as new Ekuri community and a timber company, Ezemac International Limited, clash over renewed logging activities in the Ekuri forest.
The dispute follows the recent lifting of a statewide logging moratorium, a decision that has reignited friction between community-based conservation efforts and commercial logging operators across parts of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the New Ekuri community, Dr. Martins Egot alleged that heavy logging machinery was discovered deep inside the Ekuri forest on January 12, 2026, without the knowledge or consent of the host community. He described the development as a direct threat to the community’s long-standing environmental protection efforts.
According to Egot, the Ekuri people have safeguarded their forest for decades through community-led forest management, making the appearance of heavy equipment a provocation that undermines years of conservation work. He said the situation escalated when community youths seized ignition keys and batteries from the machines to prevent further logging.
Egot further alleged that rather than engaging in dialogue, the company petitioned the police, leading to his arrest and detention in Calabar. He described the action as an attempt to criminalise community resistance to what he considers unlawful encroachment on ancestral forest land.
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In response, the Managing Director of Ezemac International Limited, Mr. Ezenwa Igwe, dismissed claims that the company was operating illegally. He insisted that Ezemac’s activities are fully authorised by the Cross River State Forestry Commission and backed by valid permits.
Igwe said the lifting of the logging ban in the state paved the way for licensed operators to resume activities and maintained that his company would not be enjoying government support if its operations were unlawful. He invited concerned parties to verify his claims directly with the Forestry Commission.
The Ezemac boss also highlighted the company’s economic contributions to the state, noting that it employs over 180 workers and runs a factory in Cross River where raw timber is processed into finished products such as doors, adding value to the local economy.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Cross River State Forestry Commission were unsuccessful, as a senior official in the commission declined to comment on the dispute.
As tensions continue to simmer, observers warn that failure to address the concerns of host communities could deepen conflict over forest resources in Cross River State, a region globally recognised for its rich biodiversity and conservation significance.
