From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command will launch a disarmament operation in Biakpan and Etono, Biase Local Government Area, due to renewed clashes causing deaths and property damage.
Commissioner of Police Olusegun Omosanyin stated that reconciliation efforts by security agencies and dignitaries have failed.
Omosanyin declared, “We cannot continue to witness these wanton killings. No Nigerian has the right to take another life under the provisions of the Constitution.”
He summoned Biase LGA Chairman Edodi Edodi-Eyong, traditional rulers, and youth leaders to the state police headquarters, but youth leaders did not attend.
The Biakpan-Etono conflict, spanning over 20 years, centres on a Supreme Court ruling granting Biakpan control over Etono 2. Tensions rose after claims that Edodi-Eyong led gunmen to destroy Biakpan properties, which he denied, saying, “How can anyone say I led armed men to unleash mayhem against one of the communities?”
The police warned that failure to surrender weapons peacefully will trigger a full-scale disarmament operation involving all state armed forces.