Efik women, under the aegis of Mbono Iban Nsidung, have protested the incarceration of 80-year-old Etubom Efio-Ita Efiom, said to have been sentenced to three years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The protesting women, stormed the Palace of the Obong of Calabar over the matter.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Release Obong Obio Nsidung, “Let Peace Reign in Nsidung,” “Women of Nsidung Need Our Obong Obio Back,” amongst others.
Addressing Journalists, leader of the group, Obonganwan Nsidung, Barbara Etim James, said they were at the Palace to solicit the throne’s intervention over the incarceration of Etubom Efio-Ita as he had already spent a week in Afokang prison.
“Here, are the women of Henshaw Town or Nsidung.”
“As you can see, they are adorning black attire which is a symbol of mourning because evil has taken over our land.”
In fact , “the people can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Moreover, “We are here to express our deep sadness and anger at what transpired last week.”
Obonganwan James, explained that their Etubom Obio, the Traditional Head of Nsidung, was arrested, taken to court.
Accordingly, he was convicted and imprisoned for three years without an option of a fine in a land case.
Truth Live News learned that the incarcerated man is the Traditional Head of the Efiom Ewa Nsa Royal family in Henshaw Town/Nsidung.
Also, he is an eminent traditional leader in that community.
“We are talking about an elderly, peaceful, frail man who should not be subjected to such torture,” said Obonganwan James.
She added that “It is such a man that is now being incarcerated over land,” and described the situation as an injustice of the highest degree.
Therefore, “We the people of Nsidung want his incarceration reversed.”
Meanwhile , they have appealed to Etubom Traditional Council to intervene.
They said the incarceration of Etubom Efio-Ita is an abomination.
They also prayed that nothing evil should befall him in that dungeon.
While addressing the traditional Council, Obonganwan James said “if a man of such calibre could be treated with such level of disdain, ordinary Nsidung residents are afraid of their lives.
“We are crying out for the intervention of the Palace,” she stated.
As a result, a mild drama however played out when some of the women openly betrayed emotion uncontrollably, demanding the release of the jailed Etubom.
Nevertheless, they were consoled by some members of the traditional council.
Afterward , the Chairman of the Council, HRH Etubom Bassey Duke, commended the women for their display of love and concern for their leader.
Etubom Duke, told the women that the Palace was not aware of whatever transpired which led to the incarceration of Etubom Efio-Ita.
“In the world today, people who claim to be powerful make attempt to deprive others of their right, and make caricature of the peaceful ones in the society,” he responded.
“But God will not allow the enemy to triumph over the righteous,” he prayed.
He assured the protesting women that the palace will stand by them to ensure this injustice is redressed.
Moreover, “such anomaly has never happened in Efik kingdom.”
“What the incarceration of Etubom Efio-Ita means is that Nsidung, as a community, is under trial but God will have his way at the end of the day,” he concluded.