How peace was restored to Ugbo/Ikpanja crises

Aro News (AN): What is the current status of the Ipanja-Ugbo crisis?

Jideofor Kanu: Ipanja and some villages in Arochukwu namely Ugbo, Amoba, Amukwa and Amasu share boundaries – ancient boundaries, as we were meant to understand. The focal point in this instance is Ugbo, where the crisis emanated. We looked at the situation and said whatever affects Ugbo, affects the entire Aro Kingdom.

So after the crisis, there was mediation from the leaders concerned. From Aro Kingdom were the Arianzu, Eze Ibom Isii and Eze Ezeagwu at the forefront to ensure that peace was restored. They got in touch with the paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom Local Government in Akwa Ibom State, His Highness, Dr. Inyang who played a very vital role in ensuring that peace was made between Ugbo and Ipanja. Then we have the Obong of Ito, HRH Ebitee; he was also very helpful, acting as the arbiter. The clan head of Ipanja also assured us that he wanted peace and also the security outfit from Aro Kingdom which I was coordinating. We did a lot of work; we went to Ito, Ito is in Cross River State, we went to the palace of Obong of Ito to seek peace, where delegates from Ugbo and Ipanja also came. The efforts of the Technical Committee led to the visit of the palace of Obong of Ito. After the technical committee met at Arochukwu LGA headquarters in an effort to resolve the conflict. The committee to visit Ito was headed by the Obong himself, I as the immediate past Chairman of Arochukwu LGA as a member, the Deputy Chairman of Ibiono Ibom LGA and Hon. Nkem Okoro were also members of the committee. We – except the deputy chair of Ibiono Ibom who asked to be escused because of the distance – visited Ito. We arrived at a resolution to achieve peace. Our terms of reference were traditional. Traditional means of settlement which meant that both parties were to visit the disputed area and determine by consent, the ancient boundary, because both parties cited oral history of several years ago. But our findings revealed that the claims by Ipanja people were more political, because they cited the Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission, which demarcated the lands along river tributaries, so they claimed that Iyi Vara was the boundary and at that point, we had to report back to the Technical Committee, which is led by the paramount ruler, Arianzu Aro, Eze Ibom Isii, Eze Ezeagwu and the Obong of Ito. After our report was presented to them, another meeting was held at the palace of the paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom in Akwa Ibom State.

AN: So finally, was peace achieved or, was the dispute resolved?

JK: Yes, but it took a very long process, because we went to Ibiono Ibom twice, the last time we went there, the paramount ruler and the other royal fathers were very committed to ensuring that peace was restored between Ugbo and Ipanja peoples. I make reference to what the paramount ruler said, that ‘we cannot fight our brothers’, adding that they migrated from Ibom Village in Aro.

Ipanja is a community in Ibiono Ibom, which consists of four local governments area in Akwa Ibom. Thus it can be said that they migrated from Ibom Aro. Ibiono Ibom is the first amongst them. The paramount ruler played a very important role in ensuring that peace was achieved.

The Arochukwu traditional council and the Obong of Ito also played key roles in making sure peace was achieved. The peace didn’t come easy though, it took us from the 26th of April to June, 2021. On the 26th of June, they paid us a visit at Aro. They visited the LGA and the palace of Eze Aro where a resolution was made.

During the process of resolving the dispute, it was resolved that no person from both sides – Ugbo and Ipanja – should enter the disputed land, pending the final resolution of the matter. Hoever, it was later discovered that both communities entered the disputed area. Ugbo people admitted entering the disputed land only once, and that was when they noticed that Ipanja people were already entering the land severally, even harvesting palm fruits and fishing. The Technical Committee did not take it lightly. Consequently Ugbo village was fined a live goat, ten tubers of yam, assorted drinks etc. and paid the penalty. However, as it was observed that the fine items they brought didn’t meet the standard, an additional cash fine was imposed on them, which they also paid.

The committee imposed heavier fine on Ipanja for entering the disputed land on several occasions. During the meeting at the paramount ruler’s palace, they pleaded for time to enable them pay the fine, but they were also fined additional N10,000. The paramount ruler insisted that they must pay the fine and they accepted to do so at the Aro meeting.

The second resolution is our brother – Daniel Nwachukwu – the Head of Aburu community recognised by the Akwa Ibom State government whose house was burnt by Ipanja people during the crisis, and who has been taking refuge in Arochukwu, the Aburu people trace their origin from Obinkita. The Committee resolved that his house should be rebuilt by the Ipanja people who had earlier denied destroying the house but were found culpable after investigations. The Ipanja people had earlier accused him of being a saboteur and spying for Ugbo.

A covenant is to be made between them to avoid such destruction in the future. The paramount ruler applied and got a police post, which is to be cited at Ipanja to forestall future clashes.

During the clashes, the Ipanja people did the unthinkable by beheading an Aro man, and taking away his head. After much deliberations on the matter, it was resolved that the Ipanja people should bring back the head and some cleansing process must take place on the land. The corpse cannot be buried without the head. It was also noted that Ikeji was fast approaching and the need to settle that aspect was emphasized without which peace cannot be guaranteed.

Since the founding of Aro kingdom, this is about the first time that it was heard that an Aro man was beheaded and his head taken away. Our royal fathers frowned serious about it and stated the traditional implications to the matter. The Ipanja people requested that sometime be given to them to return the head. Every indication points to the fact that it was the Ipanja that committed the crime. Even the Army also pointed accusing fingers at them. We were equally made to understand that we are brothers, that Aro is not just a kingdom but a nation with over 250 Diaspora communities. We speak and understand their language and they also speak and understand ours. So Aros don’t go to war because we don’t know whether our brothers are in the areas where we go to war but that doesn’t mean you can treat an Aro with levity. Some of these reasons are what gave birth to Aro Kingdom Neigbourhood Watch. The Ipanja people agreed that they will bring back the head, so we are waiting.

The final resolution is the issue of ancient boundaries. From the interviews we had with the two communities, it revealed that the Ipanja people are traditionally fishermen; they are not known to be great farmers. Rather Ugbo people are known to be farmers. Over the centuries they have been cultivating the disputed land with palm fruits and rice. As you may well know, palm trees are not what you plant today and harvest tomorrow, it takes years to mature so the Ugbo people are the occupants of that place, but the Ipanja people also come to harvest the palm fruits claiming that they were planted on their land.

But during the interviews, the Ugbo people led by their President General, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okpani, acquitted himself very well; that they are the actual owners of the land. He revealed that an Ugbo son, who was a big rice farmer in those days, had a tractor which broke down and is still in the area till date as evidence. He stated that Ugbo does not have boundary with Ipanja but with Aburu. There was also a case between Amoba and Ugbo over land in that same area around 1920 or 1930 and that an Ipanja Chief testified that the land belongs to Amoba. On that basis also he wondered why Ipanja would now lay claim to the land.

There is a small river they call Nkwocha Okpa, It is not even the boundary, but a place where they wash and clean up while returning from their farms. So from all the evidence they presented, there is no doubt about the ownership of the land. The technical committee resolved to visit the disputed area and whatever is their findings, both parties must adhere to it, ‘Egburu ye n’okpupu, egburu nye ururu’, after which a covenant will be entered by both communities. This decision was unanimously agreed to by everybody. So we are still waiting for the conditions to be met to achieve lasting peace.

AN: Thank you for your time sir

JK: Ndewo