Cross River Imposes Dusk-to-Dawn Curfew on Ugep, Idomi Communities Over Land Dispute

The Cross River State Government has moved decisively to prevent a full-blown communal crisis in Yakurr Local Government Area as Akahi News can confirm the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the troubled Ugep and Idomi communities. The decision comes amid renewed tensions over a longstanding communal land dispute that threatened to spiral out of control.

Akahi News learnt that the curfew, announced in a press statement on May 5, 2026, restricts movement from 6:00pm to 6:00am daily in and around the affected communities for an initial period of seven days. The statement was signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, who described the measure as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate peace following a high-level government meeting.

Deputy Governor Chairs Peace Meeting with Warring Communities

The peace meeting, which took place on Monday, May 4, 2026, was presided over by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Peter Odey. Akahi News gathered that officials of the State Boundary Commission, the Surveyor-General, and representatives of the warring communities were all in attendance. The dialogue, though tense, appears to have yielded the temporary truce that the curfew now seeks to protect.

But why did it take renewed tensions for the government to act? Land disputes in Cross River are not new. Ugep and Idomi have a history of disagreements over boundaries, farmlands, and inheritance. What is different this time is the speed of the government’s response. Within days of the resurgence of hostilities, the deputy governor himself convened a meeting, and a curfew was imposed.

That speed is commendable. But it also raises a question: will the seven-day curfew be enough to cool tempers, or will the underlying grievances simply fester until the next explosion?

Security Agencies Enforce Curfew, But Highway Remains Open

As part of the new directive, security agencies including the Nigeria Police have been mandated to enforce strict compliance with the curfew. However, in a move that shows sensitivity to economic realities, the government ensured that movement along the Ugep–Ikom Highway would remain uninterrupted for essential traffic. That highway is a lifeline for commerce in the region. Blocking it entirely would have caused fresh hardship.

The state government also directed the Executive Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, the Paramount Ruler, clan heads, and key stakeholders from both communities to support security agencies. Their role, according to the statement, is to intensify sensitisation efforts aimed at sustaining peace. In other words, the government cannot be everywhere. Community leaders must step up.

Akahi News believes that the success of this intervention will depend heavily on the credibility of those local leaders. If they are seen as neutral and genuinely committed to peace, their messages will resonate. If they are perceived as taking sides, the sensitisation efforts may backfire.

Governor Otu’s Administration Pledges Fair and Lasting Resolution

The statement reaffirmed that the administration of Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu remains committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and lasting resolution of the boundary dispute. That is a promise that will be tested. Land disputes in Nigeria are notoriously difficult to resolve because they often involve not just legal claims but ancestral attachments, emotional investments, and generations of memory.

A fair resolution means both communities must feel heard. A transparent resolution means the process must be open to scrutiny by the public and the press. A lasting resolution means the agreement must survive the departure of the current administration. Those are high bars.

What Does This Mean for Residents of Ugep and Idomi?

For ordinary families in these communities, the curfew means a disruption of daily life. Evening prayers, night markets, and late-hour visits to neighbours are now forbidden for at least seven days. Farmers who return from their farms after 6pm may find themselves in confrontation with security forces. It is not an ideal situation. But it may be preferable to the alternative: open communal warfare that leaves homes burnt and bodies buried.

Akahi News understands that the government is walking a tightrope. Too heavy a hand, and the communities may unite against the state. Too light a touch, and the violence may resume. The curfew is a temporary measure. What comes after will determine whether this crisis is truly resolved or merely postponed.

The people of Ugep and Idomi have lived as neighbours for generations. They share markets, marriages, and sometimes even blood. A piece of land should not be allowed to turn brother against brother. The government has stepped in. Now the communities must step back from the brink and choose dialogue over destruction.

A Philosophical Reflection on Land and Peace

There is an African proverb: “The land is our mother. We do not fight over our mother.” But in reality, communities do fight over land. They fight because land means food, shelter, and survival. They fight because boundaries drawn by colonial administrators make no sense to those who have farmed the same soil for centuries. They fight because poverty makes every acre precious.

The Cross River State Government has chosen the path of dialogue and deterrence. The curfew says: cool down. The peace meeting says: talk. The pledge of a fair resolution says: we will listen. Now the ball is in the court of the communities. Will they grab the opportunity for peace, or will they let the land claim more blood?

Akahi News will monitor the situation closely. For now, the curfew is in place. The highway remains open. And the people of Ugep and Idomi must decide whether they will be remembered as warriors or as peacemakers. History, as always, is watching.

📌 Key Summary Box – What You Must Know

• ✔ Cross River State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew (6pm to 6am) on Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr LGA for an initial seven days following renewed land dispute tensions.
• ✔ The decision, announced on May 5, 2026, followed a high-level peace meeting on May 4 presided over by Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dr Peter Odey.
• ✔ Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, will enforce the curfew, but movement along the Ugep–Ikom Highway remains open for essential traffic.
• ✔ The government directed local government chairman, paramount ruler, clan heads, and stakeholders to support security agencies and intensify peace sensitisation efforts.
• ✔ Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration pledged a fair, transparent, and lasting resolution to the boundary dispute.
• ✔ For residents: The curfew will disrupt evening activities but aims to prevent communal bloodshed. Lasting peace depends on genuine dialogue and the credibility of community leaders.