Land Dispute: Armed Group Blocks Major Benue Road, Cuts Off Igede Tribe from Rest of the State

A renewed communal conflict between the Bonta community in Konshisha Local Government and the Ukpute community in Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State has escalated, with reports of armed militias blocking a major road. The road, which links Oju to the state capital, Makurdi, has been seized, effectively cutting off the Igede tribe from the rest of the state.

This ongoing crisis between the two neighboring communities stems from a longstanding land dispute, which has claimed numerous lives and properties, including the tragic loss of 12 military personnel in 2021.

According to sources, the situation worsened on Monday when militias from Bonta village blocked the vital route, leaving the Igede tribe, Benue State’s third-largest ethnic group, isolated. The tribe predominantly occupies Oju and Obi Local Government Areas.

Dr. John Ogi, a senior lecturer at Benue State University, confirmed the dire situation to reporters, stating that the roadblock has effectively “disconnected Igede from other parts of the state.” He emphasized that the movement of goods and services has been severely impacted, with residents now relying on an alternative route through Otukpo, which is in a dilapidated condition. A journey that normally takes two hours now requires seven hours.

Ogi further revealed that in July 2024, armed militias reportedly seized two trailers of fertilizer intended for the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, distributed by the federal government.

Despite these tensions, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia recently claimed there was relative peace in the area, assuring that the government is actively working to resolve the conflict.