Army Deployed to Ugep, Idomi Communities as Cross River Moves to Avert Full-Blown Crisis

The Nigerian Army has been deployed to the troubled Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State as Akahi News can confirm that troops are now on the ground to restore peace and prevent further escalation of the renewed communal crisis. The deployment follows days of rising tensions over a long-standing boundary dispute that has threatened to spiral into open warfare.

Akahi News learnt that soldiers are actively engaging both communities, urging residents to lay down their weapons and avoid any confrontation with security personnel. The message from the military is firm but conciliatory.

“We are here to protect lives, not to fight you. Drop your weapons and embrace peace,” a senior officer told community members in Ijiman Ugep and Idomi Community.

It is a delicate balancing act. The troops are armed and capable of force, but their initial posture is one of persuasion, not aggression. Whether that changes depends entirely on the response of the communities.

Chief Security Adviser Makes Direct Appeal to Kinsmen

Adding weight to the military intervention is the personal appeal of the Cross River State Chief Security Adviser to Governor Prince Bassey Otu. Significantly, the adviser hails from Ugep. His plea to his own kinsmen carried the weight of shared blood and common ancestry.

“My people, war is not a good thing. War brings no gain, only pain and loss. Go back to your homes and allow peace to reign,” he said, speaking directly to his community.

When a son of the soil speaks against violence, the message often lands differently than when it comes from an outsider. Akahi News gathered that the combined presence of military force and traditional leadership is gradually calming tensions, as residents begin to heed the calls for restraint.

Authorities continue to urge both communities to pursue dialogue and avoid any actions that could worsen the situation. But words alone will not resolve the root cause of the conflict: the disputed boundary itself.

State Government Orders Immediate Survey of Disputed Boundary

In a decisive move toward lasting peace, the Cross River State Government had earlier ordered an immediate survey of the disputed boundary between Idomi and Ugep communities. This directive followed a high-level peace meeting held in Calabar, convened by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, with key traditional rulers, clan heads, and stakeholders from both communities in attendance.

At that meeting, held last weekend, the State Surveyor General was mandated to lead an on-site assessment of the disputed area. Crucially, the exercise will be carried out jointly with representatives from both Idomi and Ugep to ensure transparency, fairness, and community buy-in. When both sides are part of the process, neither can easily claim foul play.

Deputy Governor Odey emphasised that the administration of Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu is committed to peaceful coexistence and will not tolerate actions that threaten the unity of Cross Riverians. He urged both communities to maintain calm and avoid any acts of provocation while the survey is ongoing.

Stakeholders Commend Government’s Swift Intervention

Stakeholders at the peace meeting commended the state government’s swift intervention, describing it as a major step toward ending decades of tension and restoring brotherhood between the neighbouring communities. Decades of tension. That is how long this dispute has festered. Previous administrations have come and gone. Previous promises have been made and broken.

What makes this different? The combination of military de-escalation, political will, and technical survey. The government has made it clear: the final boundary demarcation will be based on verifiable data from the survey and historical records. Not on who shouts the loudest. Not on who has more fighters. But on evidence.

Akahi News believes that this approach – force to stop the fighting, dialogue to lower the temperature, and survey to resolve the root cause – is the right one. But success depends on three things: the honesty of the surveyors, the patience of the communities, and the determination of the government to see the process through to the end.

What Does This Mean for Residents of Ugep and Idomi?

For ordinary families in these communities, the presence of soldiers is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers protection from attacks by the other community. On the other hand, it is a reminder that life has not returned to normal. Farmers cannot tend their fields if they fear crossing into disputed territory. Mothers cannot send children to school if the road passes through a flashpoint.

Akahi News gathered that the government’s insistence on a joint survey is a significant breakthrough. When both communities participate in gathering the data, they cannot later reject the outcome as biased. The transparency of the process will be as important as the accuracy of the measurements.

The Deputy Governor’s warning against provocation is also critical. Even as the survey proceeds, there will be those on both sides who prefer conflict to compromise – who have invested in the dispute emotionally, politically, or financially. They must be restrained, by community leaders if possible, by security forces if necessary.

A Philosophical Reflection on Land, Brotherhood, and Lasting Peace

There is a saying: “Land does not fight. People fight.” The soil of Ugep and Idomi has no quarrel with itself. The quarrel is between people who share ancestry, language, and culture. A boundary drawn by colonial administrators or disputed by generations should not be allowed to turn brothers into enemies.

The government’s decision to survey and demarcate based on verifiable data is an admission that emotion alone cannot settle land disputes. Facts matter. Historical records matter. And when those facts are agreed upon by both parties, the foundation for lasting peace is laid.

Akahi News calls on the people of Ugep and Idomi to give peace a chance. The soldiers are not there to occupy. The government is not there to punish. The surveyors are not there to favour one side over the other. All are there to help the communities help themselves.

The alternative is more blood, more tears, and more generations raised in the shadow of conflict. That is not a legacy anyone should want. Choose peace. Choose dialogue. Choose life.

📌 Key Summary Box – What You Must Know

• ✔ Nigerian Army troops have been deployed to Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr LGA to restore peace and prevent further escalation of the communal crisis.
• ✔ A senior military officer urged residents to drop weapons and embrace peace, stating that soldiers are there to protect lives, not to fight.
• ✔ The Cross River State Chief Security Adviser, who hails from Ugep, made a direct appeal to his kinsmen to stand down and avoid the pain and loss that war brings.
• ✔ The state government has ordered an immediate survey of the disputed boundary, to be conducted jointly with representatives from both communities for transparency.
• ✔ Deputy Governor Peter Odey warned against provocation and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to peaceful coexistence.
• ✔ For residents: The military presence is a temporary measure to stop the fighting. The long-term solution lies in the ongoing survey and boundary demarcation. Communities must choose dialogue over violence.