Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fresh wave of violence has erupted between the Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, leaving two farmers dead and several others injured in a renewed clash over a long-standing land dispute. The violence, which occurred on Monday, 8 June 2026, has heightened tensions in the area, with residents accusing Governor Bassey Otu of failing to take decisive action to protect lives and property despite repeated appeals for intervention.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, the two victims were shot dead while working on their farms along the Ekpenti Farm Road, off the Idomi–Ugep Road. The police identified the deceased as 56-year-old Omini Iyam Ebri, who was allegedly shot in the face, and 58-year-old Ubi Ofem Ubi, who sustained a gunshot injury to his left leg and later died at the hospital. Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed the incident, stating that police operatives, in collaboration with the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), had been deployed to the area to maintain peace and prevent further escalation.
The clash is the latest in a series of violent confrontations between the two neighbouring communities, whose land dispute has persisted for decades. The conflict was further fuelled by a controversial government proposal to allocate the disputed land in a 45-40-15 ratio—45 per cent to Ugep, 40 per cent to Idomi, and 15 per cent as a government buffer zone. The proposal, announced during a peace meeting on 11 June 2026, was chaired by Deputy Governor Peter Odey and included representatives from both communities.
However, the Ugep community has rejected the government's allocation formula, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of their rights. Traditional rulers from Ugep have filed a suit before the Cross River State High Court in Calabar, challenging the government's decision and demanding ₦500 million in damages. The suit, dated 6 July 2026, also contends that the government's decision ignored a subsisting 1992 High Court judgment that had previously quashed a similar buffer zone proposal.
The violence has drawn sharp criticism from residents and community leaders, many of whom have accused Governor Otu of failing to provide adequate security and allowing the crisis to fester. A local lawyer, Eric Ifere, has also threatened to sue the governor, his deputy, and others over allegations of unlawful detention and coercion during the peace meeting. Ifere claimed he was detained for about six hours at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Calabar and forced to sign an undertaking under duress.
In response to the escalating tensions, Governor Otu imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the two communities, which was later extended by one week to allow the Surveyor General to complete boundary demarcation work. The curfew, effective from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily, was enforced by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, with the government warning that defaulters would face appropriate sanctions. However, vehicular movement along the Ugep–Ikom Highway was allowed to continue uninterrupted.
Despite the government's efforts, the curfew and the ongoing legal challenge have done little to ease the frustrations of residents, who accuse the government of being slow to respond to their plight. Many residents have expressed fear that the violence could escalate further if the government fails to address the root causes of the conflict and provide adequate security. The Cross River State Government has reiterated its commitment to resolving the land dispute fairly and peacefully, but residents remain sceptical, demanding more concrete action and stronger security measures. As the legal battle continues and the curfew remains in place, the people of Ugep and Idomi are left hoping for a lasting resolution to a conflict that has claimed lives and destroyed livelihoods.
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