Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta, P4P a civil society organisation given to peace building and conflict resolution has tasked the Cross River state government over resolving communal crisis in Alesi in Ikom and Ochon in Obubra NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
In a statement signed by Mr Solomon Ndem the state chapter Publicity Secretary of P4P, the civil society organisation condemned the ongoing communal crisis between the warring communities of Alesi and Ochon while tasking the state government, Nigerian Police and other CSOs to be keen about communal crisis.
His words, ‘While we figure out measures of interventions that will yield lasting peace between both warring communities, we call on security agencies to be proactive in their responses to ensuring normalcy in the affected areas. We also call on the Gov. Ben Ayade’s government to look into the age-long land dispute that has gradually escalated into a full blown war. 
‘Partners for Peace wants to use this medium to also appreciate the Nigerian Army for ensuring the war didn’t escalate more than what we saw and also the Deputy Governor who immediately swung into action by visiting the communities without notice. We pray the needful is done swiftly and peace is restored.
‘For our brothers in Alesi and Ochon communities of Ikom and Obubra respectively we need not be told that crisis does not bring development, whatever is destroyed during this period of crisis may never be built again and it stalls progress and development; please let’s explore alternative conflict resolution as the only possible solution in dealing with this issue and restoring peace in our communities. Dialogue is always the best method of handling disputes and we advise that you deploy this method’.
Ndem informed that more communal conflicts are bound to happen in the state as the wet season sets in: ‘Finally, we task the Cross River State Government, CRSG, the Nigerian Police, and the CSO community in the state to see this Alesi-Ochon communal war as a signal to more communal conflicts in the state especially considering that the rainy season has started setting in with the need for more lands for farming and the like heightening communal conflicts.’
Recall that NEGROIDHAVEN had earlier reported that on Tuesday 8th of March 2022, two communities in the central senatorial district of Cross River, namely, Alesi in Ikom LGA and Ochon in Obubra LGA have broken into a crisis NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.
Their belligerence have left the two communities with destruction of lives and property. Houses have been burnt, vehicles destroyed, drivers are being brutalised and passengers thrown in a state of panic.
