Boundary Dispute : C'River Basin Creating Artificial Gully to Sack Us, Community Sends SOS to Govt

Engr. Bassey Nkposong, MD

The Ikot Eneobong Community, located off Abattoir Road, Ikot Ene-obong, 8 Miles, Calabar have accused the Managing Director (MD) of Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA), Engr. Bassey Edet Nkposong of creating artificial gully in a disputed boundary to sack them from their homes. 

The people in a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter to the state Commissioner for Environment said that the MD is deliberately excavating a pathway of 12 feet deep to form an artificial Erosion gully calculated to cause havoc, heavy flooding and destruction of valuable properties as well as put their lives in grave danger.

According to them, "we are humbly sending this SOS to your good office for your urgent attention and intervention, to stop further destruction of our properties and save our lives from man-created environmental problem leading to a gully erosion and flooding."

Chairman of the Neighbourhood, Mr. Simon Sunny Ejue, in a chat with our reporter said that  the MD in a meeting with the community in December last year vowed to demolish over seventy (70) modern houses claiming they were built on Basin's land.

He added that despite serious warning from the Cross River State House of Assembly and the Ministry of Lands that he has no such rights, the MD went ahead to order for vindictive excavations of some parts of the land leading to the creation of big erosion gully in the area. 

Ejue lamented that "several homes are being flooded with some fences broken down, properties and farms being swept away leaving most of us in a precarious condition.

We are calling on the government, especially the Cross River State Ministry of Environment, Cross River Coordinator of Nigeria Erosion/Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the Cross River State Environmental Protection Agency to come to our rescue".

When contacted, a staff in charge of the Basin Corporate information, Mr. Jackson John in a text message said that "Good afternoon. Sorry I'm not aware of this story. I'm hearing this for the first time. I will find out"

When pressed further on his portfolio, he said that "My friend what did you find out as a journalist".