By Kelvin Ololo
The FirstLady of Cross River State, Her Excellency Eyoanwan Bassey Otu and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, have intervened in the crisis rocking the Henshaw Town Council (HTC).
At least seven members of the council were said to have been arrested by the police under the directives of an agents of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon.
In a statement issued by the Acting President of the Henshaw Town Council, His Royal Highness Etubom Ekpo Nsa Ekeng, on 29th September 2025, explained that the seven individuals were arrested by the Anti-Cultism Squad on Thursday, September 25, 2025, while attending the community’s officially convened “Nkot Mbok Nsidung” peace and reconciliation meeting.
Of the seven arrested is said to include Madam Ennang, a stroke survivor in her 70s who walks with the aid of a walking stick. The Council termed the arrest as an unlawful arrest, questioning why a 70-year-old woman would poses a security threat in a reconciliatory and peaceful meeting.
The Council thanked the Governor’s wife and the Chief of Staff for the quick intervention and prayed them and state government to put an end to the issue.
The statement read: “The seven Henshaw Town sons and daughters were detained for over seven hours, with police insisting that a petition was lodged against them by agents of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon. Police stated that bail could not be discussed until the petitioners were present.
“The severity and indiscriminate nature of the arrests are highlighted by the profile of those detained including Madam Ennang, a stroke survivor in her seventies, who walks with the aid of a walking stick, was among those arrested. That anyone could suggest a grandmother in her condition was causing a “breach of peace” by attending a peace meeting is unbelievable, to say the least.
“The Paramount Ruler’s agents also attempted to arrest the official representative of the Chief of Staff to the Governor before they realized his identity. This act serves as clear evidence that the arrests were political, indiscriminate, and unlawful.
“His Royal Highness Etubom Ekpo Nsa Ekeng, Acting President of Henshaw Town Council, greatly appreciates the timely and compassionate intervention from the Governor’s office which secured the release of the detainees.”
They warned that the continuous use of police apparatus to terrorize the community and obstruct legitimate peace efforts must cease to protect the lives and investments of Henshaw Town citizens.