States at war over boundaries

By Oluseye Ojo, Lagos; Okey Sampson, Umuahia; Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki and Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

Boundary disputes are tearing communities apart in some parts of the country. In some cases, the boundary disputes are as old as the states that are at war of boundaries. There are also places where the border disputes predate the creation of states.

Almost in all cases, efforts have been made to resolve the conflict by governments in the states that are involved, and the National Boundaries Commission. There are also places where boundary disputes have been resolved by courts, yet violent clashes persist.

Over time, lives have been lost, even in the most gruesome manner in some cases and property worth several millions of naira have been wasted. What have never ceased are persistent calls from apparently overwhelmed community leaders and officials of successive state governments for settlement of the disputes.

Rising tension in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara

Long-standing boundary disputes between Oyo and Osun, Oyo and Ogun, as well as Oyo and Kwara states, might have reached a boiling point.

The disputes have been threatening not just the peace of neighbouring communities but also the fabric of inter-state relations. Between Ibadan in Oyo State and Iwo in Osun State, the dispute could be showcasing a complex struggle that transcends boundaries. The disputes between Oyo and Osun states date back to 1991 when Osun was carved out from the old Oyo State. The creation of new states brought with it lingering questions about boundary lines, land ownership, and jurisdiction.

Adebayo Lawal, Deputy Governor of Oyo State told Saturday Sun, that “The National Boundary Commission has not really defined in concrete terms the boundary between Oyo State as it is today and Osun State.”

The communities caught in this discord, particularly in the Lagelu and Iwo local governments, have been embroiled in a bitter fight over ownership of several villages. Fights over the land sparked violent skirmishes between communities, with accusations flying in both directions.

Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, said the violent clashes in affected villages, which occurred some weeks ago, have led to significant property loss and widespread fear among residents.

“Villages like Ogburo, Ogunajo, Eleye, and Molamu have been infested with fear,” he stated.

Residents have been forced to flee their homes, while buildings have been reduced to rubble. The situation led to urgent meetings among critical stakeholders. The palace of Olubadan also condemned the actions of alleged land grabbers, while asserting the historical Oba River as the rightful boundary.

The confusion prompted the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Osun State counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, to intervene. They established committees aimed at resolving the territorial disputes amicably.

Oyo State deputy governor, Lawal, and his counterpart in Osun, Kola Oyewusi, were appointed to work out a peaceful solution to the dispute. This came as the National Boundary Commission faced criticism for its slow action in resolving the boundary demarcation process.

“We had meetings in Ibadan about three months ago, and we visited the disputed locations in Papa, Ogburo, and adjoining villages,” Lawal told Saturday Sun.

According to him, the efforts have allowed representatives of both states to witness firsthand the depth of the divide they are attempting to heal. Lawal stated that boundary disputes between Oyo and Kwara are also on the radar of the NBC. He added that judicial pronouncements have been made on a larger percentage of disputed areas between Oyo and Ogun.

At a peace meeting between representatives of Ogun and Oyo states, involving lawmakers from both states, emphasis was laid on arriving at collaborative solutions rather than engaging in tussles for territory.

The disputed areas between Oyo and Ogun include Elere, Ayegbede, Opeji, and others spanning Ibarapa East and Ibarapa Central Local Government Areas, as well as Bakatari in Ido Local Government.

Both Oyo and Ogun lawmakers have formed a joint committee to discuss the ongoing boundary disputes. Lawal, who had served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Oyo State, recalled collaborative meetings held with his Osun counterpart, Prince Kola Adewusi, in an effort to resolve the boundary disputes.

“And because of the precipitation of a crisis along that corridor, the two states have had to really intervene very decisively, calling for a series of meetings between my humble self as chairman, Boundary Committee in Oyo State and my counterpart in Osun State.

“We had meetings in Ibadan about three months ago. We visited the disputed locations in Papa, Ogburo and adjoining villages around that corridor.

“In fact, we went as far as Odo-Oba, which is the claim of Oyo State as the boundary between Iwo Local Government in Osun State and Lagelu Local Government in Oyo State.

Ebonyi/Cross River clashes: 10, 000 displaced, lives lost

Ebonyi and Cross River are neighbouring states with boundary disputes that are as old as the states.  In Igbeagu autonomous community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, no fewer than 10,000 indigenes of the community were displaced following clashes between them and their Ukele neighbours in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Over 5,000 houses were destroyed in the Igbeagu community in the boundary dispute while tens of lives were lost. On the other hand, the casualty figures and level of destruction on the side of the Ukele people could not be ascertained by Saturday Sun.

Following peace efforts by the governments of the two states, a fragile peace is said to be gradually returning.   

In Obegu Ibom, Amachi community, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the people also have boundary dispute with their Obubra neighbours in Cross River State. The clashes, which have been going on for several years, have claimed many lives, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Among those killed in the crisis were a nine-year-old boy, aged men, women, children and girls.

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has been contacted for demarcation of the disputed land to avoid further destruction of property and loss of lives.  In Ochienyim/Ndiagu Amagu/Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, lives have also been lost in the boundary dispute between the community and Adadama,  Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Some members of the community killed in the crisis included Sunday Ujebe, Nte Anyigor Omar and Christopher Ogodo. Their bodies were taken away by the attackers.

Economic trees and valuable belongings were destroyed as a result of the protracted crisis. Children were forced out of schools in the area following insecurity.

In Azuofida-Edda community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, many persons were also killed in the boundary dispute between the community and their Ovurokponu-Ogurude neighbours in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.  Since 1984, when the boundary dispute started, many lives have been lost and property destroyed.

On January 10, 2017 a commercial motorcycle operator simply identified as Isagha who hailed from Ovurokponu-Ogurude, Cross River State was beheaded by unknown persons.

Following the gruesome killing, the people of Ovurokponu-Ogurude community accused the people of Azuofida-Edda of the killing of their kinsman for an alleged sacrifice required for the burial of their late traditional ruler.

Although the Azuofida-Edda people denied the allegation, on January 13, 2017, at about 3 am, they were attacked by gunmen, leading to the death of many persons and properties worth millions of naira being destroyed.

Meanwhile, a   joint committee was constituted to find lasting peace between the two neighbouring communities.  The joint committee, which was headed by former  Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State,  Dr Kelechi Igwe and former Deputy Governor of Cross River State,  Prof. Ivara Ejemot-Esu, determined  factors responsible for the failure of previous peace initiatives in four flash point of Yala/Izzi, Obubara/Abakaliki, Obubara/Ikwo and Abi/Ikwo.

Cross River in decade-long border conflicts 

Cross River State has been entangled with several interstate as well as international boundary disputes with its neighbours for several decades. These conflicts have defied solutions over the years and have left in their trail, deaths, displacements and properties worth millions of naira being destroyed.

Checks show that the state has a high rate of interstate boundary issues with its neighbours and almost all border communities have one dispute or the other.

Cross River shares an interstate boundary with Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Benue and also an international boundary with Cameroon. One crisis or the other exists between these neighbours which sometimes trigger violent clashes and efforts to resolve these crises have not yielded much result.

This has made violent clashes and instability become a way of life despite efforts by the state government and the National Boundary Commission to nip it in the bud.

Cross River – Akwa Ibom disputes

Another boundary dispute is brewing between Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State and Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Although the conflict has been resolved in two judgments of the Supreme Court, that has not brought peace as occasional skirmishes still exist between villages in both states along that corridor particularly, Oku Iboku and Ikot Offiong communities.

Cross River – Ebonyi in multiple disputes

In addition to the dispute with Abia and Akwa Ibom state, on the Ebonyi flank, there has been a war of attrition between Adadama in Abi, Obubra and Yala in Cross River and Ikwo and Izzi in Ebonyi for decades.

This conflict is one of the several existing clashes that have defied all peace moves initiated by previous administrations.

The age-long internecine war over parcels of land got to frightening dimensions in 2014, leading to the setting up of a 26-man joint committee to dialogue with the villages by the then governors of Cross River and Ebonyi, Liyel Imoke and Martins Elechi, respectively.

The decision to set up the joint committee also contained border areas and to dialogue with the communities concerned with a view to finding mutually acceptable and sustainable solutions to disputed areas. However, years on, there have been perennial clashes between border communities of the two states.

Even though efforts are still on to resolve the conflicts, both states have resolved to work towards achieving peace along the border corridors of Ndiagu Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi and Adadama, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. The resolution was contained in a five-point communiqué issued after a meeting of officials of Cross River and Ebonyi states on the interstate boundary held at Ebonyi State Deputy Governor’s office, Abakaliki on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

The meeting also resolved to embark on sensitisation of the affected communities to desist from all forms of encroachment while waiting for the delineation of the boundaries by the National Boundary Commission. The two states also put in place modalities for joint security teams to patrol the affected areas. The conflict between these communities has been ongoing for decades, particularly in the Yala Local Government area axis of Cross River State.

Speaking on the crisis earlier this year in Calabar, the Ukelle Ka – Calabar Forum called on the NBC to properly demarcate the boundary.

Mom Olom, a former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly and Isaac Okpokpo, a community leader in Ukelle, in a statement, called for a process that engages stakeholders at the community, local government and state levels.

Cross River – Benue dispute

The decade-old conflict between Cross River and Benue states recently erupted yet again, leading to the death of three persons.

The conflict involves the Mbazerem Community in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State and Abonkib Community in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. One of the victims, Agage Ternenge, from Benue State was stoned to death in the heat of the renewed crisis.

Although the Cross River State Police command confirmed the death of the victim and also the arrest of some prime suspects in the gruesome murder, the Obudu Urban I Traditional Rulers Council while calling for the prosecution of the perpetrators said the death was not linked to the border crisis but to a cult group revenge. The traditional rulers said the forest (boundary) killing of Nicholas Akiekeye and Akeh Ingio who were members of a cult group by the Mbazerem community was responsible for the reprisal attack.

They declared that “In all through the records of hostilities between the Abonkib community of Obudu and Mbazerem community of Vandikya L.G.A’s, it has never been seen or heard that what happened in the forest (boundary) spilled over to the street of Obudu.

“It should be further understood that no commission of enquiry since the frequent skirmishes between both communities began in 1950 has ever indicted the Abonkib community as an aggressor.”

Cross River – Cameroon international boundary

The unending dispute with Cameroon is another complex challenge Cross River State is facing as it shares an international boundary comprising both land and sea with the Republic of Cameroon.

Some Cross River State communities bordering Cameroon – Danare and Baijua  in Boki Local Government Area and also, Afiang Ayong and Ikang Local Government Areas both in Bakassi. The judgment of the International court has virtually settled the seaward boundary subject to the demarcation exercise of the Nigerian Cameroon Mixed Commission  but the land boundary is far from over.

About seven years ago, soldiers from Cameroon invaded Danare in Cross River State in search of Cameroon separatist fighters and this created serious concern and outcry by the residents.

Last year, the House of Representatives moved to halt the ceding of Danare and Biajua communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria through Pillar 113A to the Republic of Cameroon.

The House decision through a resolution followed the consideration of a motion titled “Demarcation and Ceding of Danare and Biajua Communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State of Nigeria through Pillar 113A to the Republic of Cameroon”, moved by Victor Bisong Abang, a member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency and eight others.

The lawmaker expressed worry that if urgent actions were not taken by the federal government, the entire country will lose the good people of Danare, Biajua in Boki LGA,  about 7,000–10,000 hectares of land in the Boki Area of Cross River State alongside some parts of Obanliku LGA also in Cross River to its international neighbour. The boundary disputes plaguing Cross River State are a ticking time bomb, threatening to destabilise the region and undermine its potential.

Ultimately, finding a solution to these disputes will require the involvement and cooperation of all stakeholders. It’s imperative that they come together to find lasting solutions, ensuring peace, security, and prosperity for all.

Abia – Cross River communities in violent clashes

Violent clashes have become regular occurrences between communities in Abia State and their neighbours in Cross and Akwa Ibom states, as a result of boundary disputes.

In January this year, tension escalated in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia following a clash between the people of Ndi Isu and their neighbours in Mbiabong Ukwa in Odukpani LGA of Cross River State.

The incident, which occurred on January 3, around the Okpa Isu Pond, a fishing area, resulted in three natives of the Isu community being declared missing. President General of the Isu Progressive Union, Amarachi Kalu, expressed deep concerns over the persistent attacks, which he said have led to the displacement of many Isu natives since 2018.

He said: “These invasions have caused immense suffering for our people. The attack on our fishermen at Okpa Isu Pond is the latest in a series of aggressions. We are calling on the state and federal governments to intervene urgently and address this crisis before it spirals further out of control.”

Some residents of Ndi Isu expressed fears of further escalation of violence in the area should authorities fail to provide adequate security in the community. In September last year, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, expressed optimism that the fratricidal boundary dispute between the Isu community in Abia and its neighbours in Cross River would be resolved.  He said his optimism was emboldened by the willingness of authorities in Cross River State to amicably resolve the boundary dispute.

Elsewhere, before the Ndi Isu clash, Azunchia Ariam and Usaka Ukwu communities in Ikwuano LGA were under attacks from their Nkari neighbours of Akwa Ibom State, which led to loss of lives. This particular incident made the Abia State deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu to describe the incessant mayhem in communities along the boundary corridors between Abia and Akwa Ibom states as not only very regrettable but also disturbing and disappointing.

The deputy governor revealed then that he had in conjunction with his Akwa Ibom counterpart, held meetings with the National Boundary Commission and will continue to mount pressure on them till the final delineation and demarcation of their boundary lines was done. As a way of finding a lasting solution to the border disputes, members of Abia and Cross River houses of assembly Joint Border and Security Committee met.

The lawmakers among other things, called on the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to, as a matter of urgency, delineate the proper boundaries of the affected areas.

Investigations revealed that the NBC delineated the boundaries of the disputed areas some years ago, but it is not yet clear if the commission has made physical demarcation of the boundaries, hence the incessant clashes along those corridors.

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