Ugep, Idomi Land Dispute Triggers One Week Lockdown In Yakurr

UGEP, CROSS RIVER – Tension has gripped parts of Yakurr Local Government Area following the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Ugep and Idomi communities over a festering communal land dispute threatening public peace.

The Cross River State Government announced the restriction on Tuesday, placing both communities under a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for seven days, effective May 5, 2026.

Authorities say the measure is aimed at forestalling a total breakdown of law and order as tensions rise between the two neighbouring communities.

The directive follows a high-level peace meeting held on May 4, presided over by the Deputy Governor, where stakeholders, including the Surveyor General and State Boundary Commission, engaged representatives of the disputing parties in a bid to de-escalate the situation.

Despite the intervention, the government’s decision to impose a curfew signals concerns that the dispute may have reached a volatile stage, although officials have not disclosed specific incidents of violence or casualties linked to the crisis.

Security agencies, including the police, have been ordered to enforce strict compliance with the curfew, while also ensuring that vehicular movement along the Ugep–Ikom highway remains uninterrupted.

The government emphasized that maintaining economic and transport activity on the major route remains a priority even as restrictions tighten within the affected communities.

Traditional rulers, clan heads, and key stakeholders have also been directed to cooperate fully with security agencies and intensify sensitization efforts among residents to maintain calm and avoid actions capable of escalating the conflict.

However, the absence of detailed information about the root cause of the dispute has raised concerns among observers, with many questioning the transparency of the government’s response.

The statement announcing the curfew did not outline the history of the land disagreement, previous attempts at resolution, or whether lives and property have already been lost.

Residents contacted expressed uncertainty over the development, as the curfew is expected to disrupt evening economic activities, restrict social movement, and heighten anxiety in already tense communities.

Security analysts warn that while curfews can temporarily suppress violence, they rarely address the underlying causes of communal conflicts, particularly those rooted in land ownership, boundary demarcation, and historical grievances.

The government has, however, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and peaceful resolution of the dispute, insisting that the curfew forms part of broader efforts to stabilize the situation and protect lives and property.

For now, calm appears fragile. With limited public information and growing restrictions, attention is shifting to whether authorities can move beyond enforcement to deliver a lasting solution to a conflict that continues to simmer beneath the surface.