A group operating in Cross River, under the aegis of Ukelle-ka Calabar Forum, has faulted claims by some persons that they had an agreement to return Izzi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ebonyi State to Ukelle in Cross River State.
The former lawmaker representing Yala state constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. Mom Olom, stated this while reacting to reports making the rounds in certain quarters Monday in Calabar.
He described the report as false and misleading and said it was capable of sparking crises in the area.
A joint statement signed by Mom Olom and the community leader Isaac Okokon, sighted by LEADERSHIP yesterday, condemned the report.
The statement described reports by one Richard Odo who works with a very famous federal government owned news outfit and report of a particular FM station based in Abakaliki as misrepresentation of the outcome of a meeting between both communities.
“At a meeting of the Izzis and Ukelle communities held on the 27th day of March 2025 at the instance of the Cross River/ Ebonyi Youth Peace Development Movement, Chaired by Barr. Paschal Nwenyi, it was resolved that both parties would not rest on our oars until lasting peace is enthroned.
“We further resolved that the next meeting be held at the instance of both chairmen of Izzi and Yala local government areas to demonstrate commitment to the pursuit of peace in their domain because of their apparent nonchalant attitude which meeting was scheduled for the 17th of April 2025 at Mfuma South Ukelle.
“But rather than reflect what truly transpired, reporter Ameachi Odo reported that the meeting was intended to finalize an agreement on the return of the Izzi IDPs to Ukelle land.
“We therefore seize this medium to put the record straight, that this was never ever contemplated since we lack powers to grant such a weighty request,” the statement maintained.
The duo stressed that the reason behind the meeting by stakeholders was to enable them to
