Paramount Ruler Disrupts Calabar South Peace Meeting Nkot Mbok Nsidung, 7 Arrested
Over the last 2 months, leaders of HTC, members of the community and potential investors have witnessed escalating crisis in HTC and community.
The people of Henshaw Town, Calabar are being terrorised, and we call on the State Government and Federal Government to investigate the crisis and bring the culprits to justice.
If a government certified clan head is found to be land grabbing, extorting people and investors, intimidating and overreaching their authority, such that they instil fear and terror in the community, and in potential investors that clan head should be stripped of that authority, made to return land, property and extortion money to the rightful owner and punished to deter other clan heads from repeating the same.
Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon (NEO) illegitimately convened and presided over a purported Henshaw Town Council (HTC) meeting on Thursday 18th September 2025 at the Council Secreteriat falsely declaring himself President of the Council.
The documents listed below and attached provide evidence that:
1. NEO was removed as President of HTC in July 2019, he challenge his removal in court and lost.
2. NEO was removed as a member of HTC by August 2019.
3. NEO falsely convened a factional meeting of HTC on 17 September 2025, falsly claiming the council had been closed since 2019 and declaring declaring himself President of HTC. An illegitimate action that has angered and divided the Henshaw Town community.
4.In response, on 20 September 2025, the authentic head of HTC, Etubom Ekpo Nsa Ekeng, Acting President of Henshaw Town Council, announced he would convene a meeting of all factions of all houses tagged “Nkot Mbok Nsidung 2025”, to begin a genuine peace process in Henshaw Town. The meeting was scheduled for, Thursday 25th September 2025 at 12noon, hand delivered invitations were sent to leaders of all factions of all houses, radio announcements, flyers and town cryers spread the invitation to the wider community.
5. On 24th September 2025, the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, called for the suspension of the peace meeting tagged Nkot Mbok and instead convened his own meeting at 11am in the same venue – Henshaw Town Council.
6. When Etubom Ekpo Nsa and his delegation of other Etuboms, Palace Advisors, Obonganwan Nsidung Barbara Etim James, women and youth arrived HTC at about 10.20am, we were barred from entering the council to attend any peace meeting. One Etubom and 6 others were arrested and detained by Anti Cultism Squad.
7. We conclude that contrary to the rhetoric that the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South speaks, his actions particularly on 25th September 2025 demonstrates that he does not want a genuine peace, what he wants is to exclude certain people and capitulation of his perceived opponents.
The relevant documents that provide evidence of the above are attached:
1. The court judgement of July 2019, affirming NEO is no longer President of HTC.
2. The public notice published in a newspaper by HTC in August 2019, signed by 7 Etuboms including Etubom Justice Charles Archibong, expelling NEO from HTC dated August 2019.
3. Invitation to illegitimate NEO HTC meeting of 18 September 2025
4.The public notice of Sept 2025 regarding the composition of HTC.
5. The response to NEO lies in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar titled ” No place for Lies in the Search for Genuine Peace in Henshaw Town Council” dated September 2025
6. The Petition by the authentic HTC Acting Presiden, Etubom Ekpo Nsa and other Council Members on 17 September 2025, to Commissioner of Police.
7. Invitation to Nkot Mbok Nsidung 2025, dated 21st September 2025
8. Invitation by Paramount Ruler Of Calabar South to an “Enquiry and Resolutions” meeting at 11am on Thursday 25th September 2025.
*Prayer*
We call on the Governor of Cross River State, HE Prince Bassey Edet Otu to intervrne in the crisis in Henshaw Town Council and remove Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon as Clan head and Paramount Ruler.
ESigned
Etubom Ekpo Nsa Ekeng
Acting President
Henshaw Town Council
