Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Executive Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, has convened an emergency peace meeting to address the escalating land dispute between the Awumi and Balagan communities in the Kupa District of Kogi State. The intervention, which brought together key stakeholders and traditional rulers, follows a series of violent clashes linked to the decades-old boundary disagreement, which has so far claimed at least one life and left residents in a state of heightened anxiety.
The meeting, held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, came after tensions between the two neighbouring communities in the Kupa District reached a dangerous tipping point. According to a statement from the local government, the dispute has been a source of friction for years, but recent skirmishes escalated into open confrontation, resulting in the death of a community member and fears of wider violence. Sources within the council confirmed that the violence erupted over ownership of farmland and fishing rights along the banks of the Niger River, a historically contested area that has pitted the agrarian Awumi community against the Balagan settlers for generations.
The Kupa District, a sprawling area within Lokoja Local Government, is one of the oldest settlements in the region, with a complex tapestry of ethnic and cultural groups. The Awumi people are considered one of the indigenous groups in the district, while the Balagan community is believed to have migrated into the area over the past century. The land dispute, which has been the subject of previous legal battles, flared up again following the Supreme Court's 2023 affirmation of the Awumi Agbabun people's rights to the Tsanku Farm land [4†L14-L19][8†L4-L9]. This ruling, which confirmed the Awumi people's ownership of a significant parcel of land, appears to have reignited tensions with neighbouring communities who have competing claims.
At the emergency meeting, representatives of both communities presented their positions on the matter. The Awumi community argued that their rights to the land were legally established and that the recent encroachment by the Balagan community constituted a violation of the court's judgment. The Balagan community, however, maintained that their members have occupied and farmed the land for decades and that they were not adequately represented in the legal proceedings. The meeting was also attended by the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Mayaki of Kupa, and other key stakeholders from the district. The presence of the police commissioner's representatives underscored the government's determination to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
Following the submissions, Chairman Adamu adjourned the meeting to allow for further investigation. A follow-up session has been scheduled for next week to allow for a detailed examination of the facts and to explore a lasting solution. Authorities have urged members of both communities to maintain peace and refrain from any actions capable of escalating tensions while efforts are ongoing to find a lasting resolution. "We cannot allow this land dispute to tear our communities apart," Chairman Adamu was quoted as saying. "We are committed to a peaceful resolution that respects the rights of all parties and restores harmony to the area". The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, also called for calm, urging the communities to give the peace process a chance.
The clash in the Kupa District is a stark reminder of the persistent land disputes that have plagued many parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region. These conflicts, often driven by competition for land and resources, have resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements over the years. The Kogi State Government has historically been proactive in mediating such disputes, often deploying security forces and engaging traditional rulers to prevent violence. However, the recurrence of these conflicts highlights the need for more sustainable solutions, including land reforms and the strengthening of traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms.
As the community awaits the next peace meeting, the mood in the area remains tense. Residents have expressed hope that the intervention will yield a lasting solution and prevent further loss of life. The Lokoja Local Government has assured residents that security has been beefed up in the area to prevent any further outbreak of violence. For now, the people of Awumi and Balagan are holding their breath, praying that the talks will succeed where past efforts have failed.
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