Cross River Border Communities Face Refugee and Land Encroachment Woes

Numerous communities straddling Obanliku and Obudu LGAs in Cross River State’s Northern Senatorial District have voiced their concerns over the persistent influx of refugees from Cameroon and ongoing encroachments on their farmlands by individuals from Benue State.

During a town hall meeting attended by key stakeholders including paramount rulers, clan heads, village heads, youth groups, and heads of security institutions, the communities expressed their worries. The gathering was convened as part of the Baseline Survey/Needs Assessment initiative undertaken by the Cross River State Border Commission (BORDERCOM).

Stakeholders highlighted that encroachments onto their farmlands have frequently escalated into potential communal conflicts with neighbouring communities. They urged for the establishment of organized border patrol teams to tackle trespassing issues effectively.

Assuring swift government intervention, the Director-General of BORDERCOM, Onun Ngim Okpo, reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to address the concerns of the border communities. Okpo emphasized the people-centric leadership style of Senator Prince Bassey Otu, indicating that interventions would be aligned with the community’s needs.

Furthermore, Okpo underscored the paramount importance of maintaining peace in the region and urged active participation from the communities in the assessment process to enhance government service delivery.