A non governmental organization working for the implementation of peace in the 9 Niger-deltan states, Partners for Peace (P4P), have revealed that 16 of the 18 local government areas in Cross River State are currently embroiled in one crisis or the other.
The organization, supported by Partnership Initiatives in the Niger-delta (PIND), made this known at a one-day training on ‘conflict and conflict reporting’ for journalist based in Cross River State.
Speaking to NewswireNGR, Comr Efio-Ita Nyok, Public Relations Officer, Cross River State chapter and member of the Central Working Committee (CWC), said that crisis in the state are not reported or underreported, and that has contributed to some of the lingering crisis in the state.
“Cross River State is a cesspool of violence and it is high time the government acts.
“Yes,16 of our 18 local government areas are embroiled in one crisis or the other. If you want to mention Abi, or Odukpani or Obudu. Whether it is Cross River verses Ebonyi, whether it is Cross River verses Abia or Cross River verses Benue. There are crisis at the interstate level and there are crisis between us.
“If you take Biase for instance, there are crisis between the 17 communities that make up the Erei nation. There is also crisis between Biase and Abia. There are are crisis amongst Abi people, there is a crisis between Abi and Ebonyi. If you move to Yala it is the same thing between the Ukelles and the Ikwo people of Ebonyi state.” He added.
Efio-Ita held that these crisis still persist because of a lack of action on the side of the government and a lack of awareness on the side of the media.
“We have been making attempts to see how the chapter in Cross River and that of Akwa Ibom intervene in these crisis from a 2 prong perspective.
“We have had meetings with ourselves which is a fallout of our discoveries on the field and we have found out that these crisis are unreported, and that is why we are giving Journalist here, something like a refresher course on conflict reporting and reminding them of the importance of having these stories told”. He said.
Also speaking at the training which held on November 10th, 2020, the Cross River State coordinator of P4P, Dr. Moses Abang called on the government to show commitment and put an end to the crisis bedevelling the state, as it has continued to claim lives and properties daily.
The training had in attendance journalists from the print, new/online and broadcast media.
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