By BANNERNEWS Reporter
For generations, the people of New Ekuri Community in Cross River State have lived with their forest — not above it.
Stretching across more than 33,600 hectares, the tropical rainforest has fed families, preserved culture, absorbed carbon, and stood as one of Nigeria’s most intact community-protected ecosystems. Today, that legacy is under threat.
New Ekuri is widely known for its community-led forest governance, a rare model in Nigeria where residents rejected large-scale commercial logging in favour of conservation partnerships such as the Ekuri Initiative.
Working with national and international organisations, the community has promoted biodiversity protection, climate action, and indigenous land rights, proving that forests can be preserved without impoverishing the people who depend on them.
“Our forest is not just land,” says Dr. Martins Egot, a community leader and Executive Director of PADIC-Africa. “It is our heritage, our climate contribution, and what we intend to pass on to our children.”
That commitment, however, is now colliding with the realities of commercial logging. Community members allege that corporate operators have moved heavy machinery into the forest, felling rare and ancient trees — some older than modern nation-states — without clear authorisation or evidence of reforestation.
One such firm, Ezemac International Ltd, is accused by the community of operating in the forest since 2023, carrying out large-scale logging activities.
Tensions reached a boiling point on January 12, 2026, when youths discovered that the company had pushed deeper into the forest with bulldozers, excavators, and trucks actively evacuating timber.
In response, the youths seized the ignition keys and batteries of two bulldozers, one excavator, and four trucks.
Despite the presence of armed soldiers escorting the logging operation, the youths reportedly acted calmly.
“No worker was assaulted and no equipment was vandalised,” a community source confirmed.
The seized items were taken to the palace of the traditional ruler, as the youths demanded dialogue and clarification.
But instead of talks, the company’s owner, Mr. Ezenwa Igwe, allegedly petitioned the police, leading to the arrest and detention of Dr. Egot in Calabar.
A youth leader, Dennis Ntui, said the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 6, ordered the arrest and detention of Egot for several days — a move he described as an attempt to criminalise forest defenders while shielding corporate interests.
While investigations were still ongoing, the seized machinery was reportedly released and logging resumed, heightening tension in the community.
Elders had to intervene to restrain angry youths from confronting the company, averting what residents feared could have turned violent.
At a media briefing after his release, Dr. Egot called for the immediate withdrawal of all Ezemac equipment from the New Ekuri Community Forest. He demanded a transparent investigation into the legality of the firm’s operations, an independent environmental impact assessment, and protection for community members resisting intimidation.
“For decades, we have chosen conservation over exploitation and peace over violence,” he said.
“We will continue to defend our forest lawfully, peacefully, and transparently — but we will not surrender our heritage to intimidation or illegal logging.”
Egot further alleged that inquiries made to the Cross River State Forestry Commission and other agencies showed no formal authorisation permitting Ezemac to log in the community forest.
He claimed that even during a meeting with the AIG, the company was unable to present valid documents.
Adding an official dimension, the State Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Comrade Raymond Anunobi, confirmed that the agency had commenced an independent investigation.
He stressed that while logging restrictions may have been relaxed, the ban on the export of forest products, including timber, remains in force.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Ezenwa Igwe denied any wrongdoing.
He insisted that his operations are fully licensed, tax-compliant, and beneficial to the state and host communities.
“I have permits. I generate revenue for both the state and local governments. I employ over 180 workers across Cross River and operate a standard factory here,” he said, adding that his wood is processed locally and not exported.
Igwe also claimed he had agreements with the Ekuri Community, paid levies, supported locals materially — including purchasing a cow at the community’s request — and employed several youths on his payroll.
As of now, however, no official documents authorising logging within the New Ekuri Community Forest have been publicly produced.
Between competing claims, police involvement, and environmental concerns, the fate of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated community-protected forests hangs in the balance — raising deeper questions about conservation, corporate power, and whose interests the law ultimately serves.
