Prominent Towns in Cross River

Ugep

Latitude:   5.3125       Lat (DMS)                   5° 18' 45N
Longitude: 8.3552       Long (DMS)             8° 21' 19E
Elevation (Feet): 830
Population Est.:  38742
Zipcode:  543101
History
Ugep as it is popularly known is one of the largest unit that constitute Yakurr and where referred to as the largest village in West Africa, its indigenes speaks the Lokaa Language which is the general language spoken in Yakurr.
Ugep originated from a place or village called. “Akpa” in the Eastern Ejagham race in the Central senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria.
The reason why the people of Ugep left Akpa was due to a religious clash between the two paternal families that makes up Apka in the ritual rites performance in the decease of the death of a person from either of the tribe.
However, failure of the Ugep people to do the normal ritual performance for the decease person is what leads to what I called “The Great Trek” where the people of Akpa pursued the people of Ugep with several arms out of the village while they were pursuing, a man called Edem Omilakpa who was tired and weak with his pregnant wife, pushed a stone from the apex of a hill down to the Apka warriors and the stone killed all the warriors and landed at the feet of the King of Akpa that ends the war between Akpa and the people of Ugep, but the great trek continues. The stone is referred to as: “Ancient wonder and saviour stone”
The people of Ugep do not just left Akpa without any cultural heritage, they left with most of the cultures that was practice in Akpa, and that is the culture practice till date.
Some of these cultures are:

New yam festival which is now one of the renown festival in cross river state and was rebrand to international festival by the past Cross River State Governor Mr Donald Duke in 2005; Ebelembi, Obam; Ndebra. Etc.
Ugep according to Eteng, (Eastern Region of Nigeria Gazette No.37/1955) enjoy the status of a local council in 1923 and today Ugep/Yakurr are very special, enviable with the total number of inhabitants estimated at 250,000 constituted by life and energy full men and women of excellent with an estimated land mass of thirty and a have square kilometres.
Ugep is administered and control by the Obol lopon of Ugep who is the chief priest of Ojokobi (A fertility spirit) he is the central figure in the administrative
system with powerful priest call Bi-Nah with their religious role like the Atewa Wu-kang - kang and Opebelede as the chief celebrant of the Ugep New yam festival.
Ugep today enjoys the status of a local government headquarters, the people of Ugep are one of the most educated, enlightened; Liberated, egalitarian; industrious, resourceful; courageous, political conscious of all in Cross River State and brave men and women of substance in the Nigerian political arena. The identity of the people of Ugep is recognise at all time and some of the major native food of the people include:
Ejakpo – smother part of cassava leaf.
Yedamblongh – eating of salad with mixed fresh palm oil with paper and kola
Ebelebele – eating of cassava when slice and cook and left till the nest day. Etc.

Some of the tourist site in Ugep/Yakurr are:
Ketabebe monolith Asa historical monument, Uleng and kiwel, Ekumini Del, Mma Itam Kema of Yatiyomoh, Ojokobi Deity and Ojonen etc.
In conclusion, Ugep people are lovers of truth and transparency, hardworking; courageous, brave; resourceful, well-educated etc. their major source of livelihood is farming and seasonal fishing it is an accommodating area for all foreigners as they do not believe in discrimination and sentiment, they are peace loving people and there is always enough of food for all.
Source
ournaija4us.blogspot.com.ng