Resolving Communal Land Disputes in Cross River State

By Okoi Obono-Obla 

Resolving Communal Land Disputes in Cross River State:

The spate of land disputes that wrack the peace of Cross River State, Nigeria, at the beginning of every farming season is deeply troubling. These disputes often result in communal violence, disrupting the peace and tranquillity of our people. This recurring problem must be addressed with collective resolve. The government of Cross River State must demonstrate tenacity and the will to solve this issue administratively and legally, once and for all.

The ongoing imbroglio between Idomi and Ugep—two communities that are consanguineous, anthropologically, customarily, and traditionally close, intertwined, and interlocked in many ways—is particularly worrisome. The government must act squarely and resolutely in conjunction with the people of Cross River State, to eliminate the destructive instincts that drive our people to take the law into their own hands. In this 21st century, in an age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, resorting to primitive violence over land disputes portrays us as savages living in the stone age.

Our people must learn to have confidence in the judiciary, where disputes can be resolved fairly. Disagreements are normal in any society, community, or family, but they must be settled through mediation or the courts—not through guns, machetes, or other lethal weapons. Resorting to violence leads only to carnage, colossal loss of lives and property, and temporary truces that collapse with the next farming season.

The government must clamp down ruthlessly on those who take up arms against their neighbours over land disputes, disregarding law enforcement agencies. We are no longer in the Hobbesian era where life was “nasty, brutish, and short,” dominated by the powerful at the expense of the weak. During colonialism and the immediate post-colonial period, governments did not hesitate to bare their fangs against communities that waged war under the guise of settling disputes. That same political will is needed today to address this menace of communal violence in Cross River State.

Furthermore, the government, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, must work to retrieve small arms from communities. These weapons, often procured at great cost from the black market, embolden communities to wage needless conflicts that disrupt the peace of the state.

Conclusion:
The time has come for Cross River State to rise above this recurring cycle of violence. By strengthening trust in the judiciary, enforcing the rule of law, and disarming communities, we can ensure lasting peace. Let us embrace dialogue and lawful resolution, so that farming seasons bring prosperity, not bloodshed.