Landslide: Obutong community urges residents not to protest, seeks government intervention

Leaders of Obutong community in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State have urged residents to refrain from staging any protest over the devastating landslide that has destroyed homes and critical infrastructure in the area.

The appeal followed the worsening erosion and landslide triggered by persistent rainfall in Calabar, particularly around the Anansa Junction axis between WAPI Junction and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory. The disaster has swallowed sections of roads, submerged houses, and damaged public infrastructure.

The situation prompted officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to visit the affected community on Tuesday for an on-the-spot assessment.

Amid reports that some residents were mobilising for a protest to accuse the state government of neglecting the area, the Acting Chairman of the Obutong Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Iso Archibong, dismissed the move, describing the landslide as a natural disaster rather than the fault of the government.

Speaking at the community hall, Archibong said the traditional leadership had cautioned residents against embarking on any protest, insisting that such action would be counterproductive.

“God forbid that Obutong should embark on such a protest, knowing that Senator Prince Bassey Otu’s administration is our government. Such a protest can never come from Obutong people. If there is any protest, it will certainly not be by members of this community but by charlatans,” he said.

Also speaking, the Supervisor for Environment in Calabar Municipality, Mr Eso Eso Archibong, confirmed that reports of a planned protest had circulated but questioned the rationale behind demonstrating against the government over what he described as a natural disaster.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government, development partners, and humanitarian organisations to urgently assist the community, noting that the scale of destruction was unprecedented.

Meanwhile, the Acting Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, DCP Godwin Etim Effiong, also appealed to residents to remain peaceful and avoid any form of protest.

The police chief, alongside the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Edet; the Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Mensah Bassey Offiong; the Special Assistant on General Duties; and the Special Assistant on Security Surveillance, met with members of the affected community and assured them that the state government was taking steps to mitigate the disaster.

The delegation urged residents to stay away from the affected areas for their safety and cooperate with emergency responders as intervention efforts continue.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Dr Peter Odey, described the landslide as a stark reminder of the state’s growing environmental vulnerability, warning that Calabar could face even greater ecological threats if urgent intervention is not undertaken.

According to Odey, the magnitude of the disaster has overwhelmed the state’s capacity, making it imperative for the Federal Government to urgently deploy technical expertise and ecological resources to contain the situation and prevent further destruction.