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Residents of Obutong community in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, are calling for urgent government intervention after a major landslide destroyed part of Anansa Road and left residents worried about the safety of their homes and businesses.
The landslide reportedly happened after several days of heavy rainfall. According to the community's youth leader, Emmanuel Okon, residents started hearing loud cracking sounds around 2am before a large portion of the road collapsed.
Okon said the damaged road is important to the community because it connects the area to the Navy Base, shipping terminals and markets.
He said the situation has continued to get worse, with the gully expanding and fresh cracks appearing around affected areas.
Some buildings have reportedly developed cracks, while others have suffered partial damage. The incident has also affected businesses and movement of goods in the area.
However, while government officials and engineers have pointed to environmental and drainage problems as the likely cause, Okon said some members of the community also believe the disaster has a spiritual side.
He linked the incident to Anansa, the traditional sea goddess respected in Obutong, saying the community believes the goddess is connected to the protection of its waters and environment.
According to him, the heavy rainfall may have triggered the landslide, but the community also sees the incident as a warning that traditional environmental practices may have been neglected.
Okon called on traditional custodians in the community to consider performing customary cleansing rites, while also urging residents to pray and take the situation seriously.
He said the community is ready to support whatever traditional steps are considered necessary, but stressed that government assistance is urgently needed.
“We need help at this level,” he said, appealing to both the Federal Government and the Cross River State Government to intervene.
The youth leader also called for temporary measures to restore movement along the affected road while a permanent solution is being planned.
He urged the authorities to provide a diversion for vehicles and residents, warning that the gully is widening every day.
Okon further alleged that activities such as sand mining and illegal structures around waterways may have contributed to the environmental problem, while also saying the community may have neglected some of its traditional practices.
Meanwhile, disaster management authorities have been assessing landslide and flood-affected communities in Calabar.
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, CR-SEMA, had earlier conducted a joint assessment of affected areas, including communities where flooding and landslides damaged homes and displaced residents.
The agencies have urged residents living in areas showing signs of danger to take warnings seriously and move to safer locations when necessary.
For residents of Obutong, the immediate concern remains the safety of lives, homes and livelihoods as the damaged section of Anansa Road continues to pose a serious challenge.
While the community's traditional explanation has generated discussion, the residents are asking for both immediate emergency assistance and a lasting solution to the environmental problem.
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