Tension continues to mount in Cross River State as the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Afegbua Rashid, has issued an ultimatum to traditional leaders and chiefs of warring communities in Biase Local Government Area. He directed them to immediately disarm their restive youths or face stern sanctions from the state police command.
The Police Commissioner made this known during a high-stakes meeting with leaders from the Etono 2 and Biakpan communities, both of which have been locked in a bloody land dispute that reignited in March 2025. The recurring skirmishes have claimed several lives and resulted in the destruction of properties, leaving both communities on edge.
Rashid, who summoned the Biase LGA Chairman, Edodi Eyong, along with traditional rulers and community heads to his office in Calabar, made it clear that the violence must end immediately. He instructed them to return to their communities and take concrete steps to restore peace, emphasizing that the disarmament of the youths is non-negotiable.
The Commissioner warned that failure to comply with this directive would trigger a police-led enforcement operation. “You must disarm your youths or the police will do it for you, and those found complicit will not be spared,” he warned.
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The directive echoes similar calls from the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Odey, who recently issued a warning to local government chairmen, stating that they risk suspension if they fail to restore peace in their areas. Dr. Odey emphasized that leadership comes with the responsibility of ensuring community safety and cohesion.
This is not the first time such an order has been issued. The immediate past Commissioner of Police, Olusegun Omosanyin, had also summoned the same communities and demanded a full disarmament campaign. However, with violence resurfacing, the latest directive signals a shift toward more decisive action.
As the deadline looms, all eyes are now on the traditional rulers and community leaders of Etono 2 and Biakpan. The question remains, will they succeed in curbing the chaos, or will the state police step in with force to restore order?