Cross River community landslide sparks call to placate sea deity, says local youth chief Okon

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Youth leader of Obutong community in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State, Emmanuel Okon, tells EMEM JULIUS about the cause of the recent landslide that tore through parts of the community, attributing the incident to the anger of a traditional sea goddess known as Anansa

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What is your position in Obutong community?

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My name is Emmanuel Okon. I am the youth leader of Obutong community in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State.

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Could you take us back to that day when a landslide hit the community? What led to the incident?

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It was after four consecutive days of relentless downpour. Around 2 am, we began to hear loud cracking sounds. By morning, a massive section of Anansa Road had caved in. The earth just opened up and collapsed, destroying Anansa Road and swallowing part of the community.

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The road that links us to the Navy Base, shipping terminals, and markets is gone. Since then, the gully has kept expanding, and every day, we watch our community sink in slow motion.

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Is this the first time Obutong community is experiencing a landslide of this magnitude?

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There has never been an incident like this. We have had minor erosion and gully issues in the past, especially during heavy rains. Our fathers would say the water was angry, and we would perform minor rites. But this 2026 landslide is unprecedented. The scale, the speed, and the location — right on a federal road — make it different. This one feels like a warning.

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How does the landslide relate to Anansa, the goddess of the sea?

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In Obutong, we believe nothing happens in isolation. When the land cries and the sea pushes back, it is a sign. Anansa is the custodian of our waters. When the covenant between man and nature is broken, the consequences become physical.

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So, for us, this landslide is spiritual. The rain was the trigger, but Anansa is the message. Where is the sand? You are not seeing the sand. Are you seeing it? Look around; all the sand has been swallowed by the ocean. It clearly shows this is the face of Anansa.

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Could you briefly explain who Anansa is in Obutong tradition?

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Anansa is our sea goddess. She is not a myth; she is law, culture, and environmental governance wrapped into one. In our tradition, Anansa protects fishermen, traders and our people. But she also sets rules: do not pollute the sea, do not build on waterways, do not take what you do not need, and do not abandon the rites.

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What specific actions or signs made the community conclude that this is a reaction from Anansa and not just natural causes?

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The sign is everywhere. Our elders say that when Anansa is angry, you hear the ground groan before it breaks. That is what we heard. Look at the place; this is Anansa Road. It bears her name. For it to collapse there, and for containers and trucks to be trapped on it, the community sees it as a direct sign.

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Science will say it was rainfall and poor drainage. We also see it as a broken covenant. I would not like to go too far, but if you check very well, from what I know, this is the face of Anansa, the goddess of the sea. Those who know the community very well know there has to be cleansing. Many things have to be done.

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You said traditional cleansing rites should be performed. What are the specific customary rites required to appease Anansa?

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Truth be told, many things have to be done. Apart from the construction work, there is mysticism surrounding it, and, as a community, I think we should pray and perform one or two cleansing rites. I will not love to go far, but if you check very well, from what I know, this is the face of Anansa, the goddess of the sea. It is time we wake up.

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Who are the custodians traditionally responsible for the cleansing?

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It is high time everybody woke up and looked inward. For the community to experience this level of destruction, there are many things we need to do. The people in charge of the cleansing in the Obutong community need to wake up and do the needful. This is more than a landslide. You can see the magnitude of the destruction; it is not normal.

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Is the community ready and willing to make all the required sacrifices?

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Absolutely! We are ready. This is about survival. When your house is on fire, you don’t argue about the cost of water. We need full support. We want to appeal to the Federal Government and the Cross River State Government to come to our aid. We need help at this level.

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What actions do you think may have angered Anansa?

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Who knows? Maybe we took the sea for granted. Anansa is not wicked; she is just enforcing the laws our fathers gave us. Let’s be honest. We might have abused the environment through sand mining at night or by putting up illegal structures on waterways. On the other hand, maybe we have stopped performing the usual cleansing rites because we are modern now.

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Can you tell us the extent of damage so far?

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It is massive. Businesses have been shut down. Some buildings have developed cracks, while others have partially collapsed. The road is completely cut off. Some families have been displaced, and others are living in fear. Livelihoods are gone. Traders cannot move their goods. This is an economic disaster.

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What is the current safety situation for families near the gully?

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It is terrible. The ground is still moving. You can see fresh cracks every morning. Children cannot go to school through that route. At night, people sleep with one eye open. We have appealed to NEMA and SEMA to come to the area and assess the situation and possibly evacuate those in the red zone. We do not want to lose lives before the government acts.

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What is the current position of the federal and state governments? Have they visited?

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Yes, the state Commissioner for Environment, Bassey Mensah, has visited and sent engineers. They described it as a technical disaster caused by poor drainage and proposed diverting floodwater. We appreciate that, but we are still waiting. This is a federal road, and we need the Federal Government to act with urgency.

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The commissioner described the incident as purely technical. How do you reconcile that with your spiritual position?

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We don’t see a conflict. You have seen what is happening. It is massive, devastating, and widespread, and you can see the magnitude of the landslide. Many people have lost their properties. At this point, the entire community is bleeding, and many things have to be done.

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Those who know the community very well understand that many things have to be done. I will not love to go far. Obutong community needs to wake up and do the needful. This is more than a landslide.

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Finally, what is your message to government, traditional rulers, and residents?

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Time is not on our side. Every day, the gully widens. We are appealing again: give us a diversion, even a makeshift one, so trucks and people can move while the permanent work is being planned. This is a national emergency, but we must also respect the land and our traditions.

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