Community Blames Protracted Communal Crisis On Cross River Govt

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Onyedama community in Obubra local government area of Cross River State has accused the state government of failing to resolve its protracted communal crisis with their neighbour, Nko community of Yakurr local government.

In a media parley with journalists at Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre State Housing Estate Calabar, on Wednesday, spokesperson for Onyedama community, Mr Ntor Festus, said the state government has all that it takes to put an end to the communal crisis. He alleged that the Cross River State government does not want them to be live in peace.
He said that years ago, the state government under the watch of Governor Liyel Imoke, set up a judicial commission of inquiry with robust terms of reference. The spokesperson stressed that because the findings from the commission did not go in favour of the NKo people, its recommendations were thrown into the trash can and government willfully refused to bring out a white paper till date.

“In the said report, Nko Community’s claim that their land boundary with Onyedama is at the Okwo (Lokpoi) River as against the Utara stream, was again rejected by the commission as in the earlier cases.
“The commission saw as a fact that the Okwo (Lokpoi) River was right inside the Onyedama community.
“For instance, a finding was made at page 28(3) of the report that the Nko frustrated the redemarcation of the boundary by the state surveyor general as directed by the Cross River State Executive Council decision in a letter of June 4, 2006,” the spokesperson stressed.
The spokesperson averred that in 2016, another bout of conflict between Onyedama and Inyima ensued, the Cross River State Government led by current governor Prof Ben Ayade established a panel of inquiry, headed by the former state deputy governor Mr. Efiok Cobham who sat on the matter.
“Sadly, like the former, the report did not see the light of the day as powerful individuals of Nko were said to have suppressed it.
“The lack of political will by government to do the needful, to a large extent has actually encouraged the crises,” Nko spokeman maintained.