Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, a former presidential aide, has expressed concern about the existence of cult groups in some Cross River State local government councils, especially Yakurr LGA, where murders have started to happen frequently.
He is a local chief in his Ugep community, where a woman and her daughter were shot dead a few days ago.
According to reports, on September 25, 2025, during a violent altercation between suspected members of the Bagga Confraternity, the two victims were struck by stray bullets. Residents were left in fear and grief, according to witnesses, as the cultists fired intermittently in public.
He called the murders a tragic reminder of cult groups infiltrating the government.
Obono-Obla claimed in a statement released in Calabar that there are widespread suspicions that a government employee in Yakurr LGA might be connected to the cult.
According to him, such a situation constitutes “a dangerous contradiction in governance and a shocking breach of public trust.”
He insisted that the incident highlighted the risks of allowing criminal elements into sensitive government positions and questioned, “How can individuals suspected of enabling violence be entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding peace?”
According to the legal expert, the Ugep attack was a part of a larger trend in which cult groups were infiltrating Cross River State’s local government structures. He contends that this kind of “institutional compromise” erodes public trust in government, feeds violence, and threatens the rule of law.
He called on the state government and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs to move quickly to conduct an independent investigation into the accusations made against the alleged aide and the Yakurr killings.
He emphasized that officials who are the subject of credible suspicion ought to be placed on leave while investigations are conducted.
In order to restore integrity and trust in local governance, Obono-Obla also called for cooperation with civil society organizations, religious leaders, and security agencies, as well as a transparent, community-led screening process for all committee appointments throughout the state.
“The people of Cross River State should have leadership that looks out for them, not put them in danger,” he said.
We cannot afford to normalize violence or reward impunity. Additionally, he revealed that he has complained about the incident to the Directorate of State Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser.
Yibala Igiri Inyang, the chairman of Yakurr LGA, responded by stating that he had formed a panel to look into the incident.
“We are awaiting the panel’s investigation’s conclusion. We are unable to take any action against suspects who are suspected of being involved in the shootings until that time. As we have always done, we are collaborating with state security agencies to stop breaches in this council,” he stated.
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