22 September 2025 – The Okum People’s Forum, representing the Ochon, Onyen-Okpon, Isabang and Odonget communities in Obubra Local Government Area, has issued a formal rebuttal to a press release by Hon. Pst. (Mrs.) Mercy Nsor, Executive Chairman of Ikom LGA. The Forum describes the statement as “distortions, half-truths and deliberate misrepresentations” that threaten to derail efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Alesi-Ochon land dispute.
Communities Reject ‘Cult Clash’ Label
In its response, the Okum People’s Forum insists the Alesi-Ochon conflict is a dispute over land ownership—“nothing to do with cultism.” The Forum points out that reducing a complex boundary disagreement to “cult-related clashes” is misleading and disrespectful to families who have suffered loss of life and property.
Surveyor General’s Findings Overlooked
The rebuttal highlights that a Cross River State investigation team, led by the Surveyor General, officially determined the contested territory rightfully belongs to the Ochon community in Obubra LGA. The Forum accuses Hon. Mercy Nsor of ignoring this government-endorsed report, alleging she prioritised propaganda over peace.
Root Cause: Defiance of Government Authority
According to the Okum People’s Forum, violence continues because Alesi residents have refused to comply with the Surveyor General’s ruling. “Reframing the crisis as cultism is a cover-up for disobedience,” the Forum said in a statement.
Calls for Retraction and Enforcement
On what the United Nations marks as the International Day of Peace, the Forum demands:
• An immediate public retraction by Hon. Mercy Nsor
• Enforcement of the Surveyor General’s decision by Cross River State Government
• Impartiality from security agencies and resistance to political manipulation
“Peace without truth is a fraud,” the Forum warns. It urges all stakeholders to respect the rule of law and work towards a lasting, transparent settlement of the land dispute.
Signed,
Okum People’s Forum, Obubra LGA
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