The Drumbeat of War

 

Obi and Wada

If not quickly addressed, the lingering fight over an oil well between Kogi and Anambra States may degenerate, writes Shola Oyeyipo

The dispute between Kogi and Anambra States over an oil well located between Ibaji (Kogi) and Aguleri (Anambra) is yet to be resolved and one of the consequences of this, among other things, is the bitter rivalry that is silently claiming the lives and property of indigenes of both states.

The trend has continued to degenerate given the continued hostilities between the border communities. While residents of Ibaji would not budge until they are able to get back their land and fish ponds trapped within the disputed area, their counterparts in Aguleri will not allow any act of trespass on the land they vehemently claim ownership. In the midst of this sharp division, both sides have continuously pointed fingers at each other over who is the aggressor.

Recently, the Anambra East Local Council Chairman, Chinedu Obidigwe, accused the Kogi State Government of fanning the ember of discord in the troubled zone. According to him, the state is encouraging violence in the disputed area. "While in Anambra, officials continue to address their people to eschew violence, there is nothing to show that the Kogi State Government has been talking to its people concerning the dispute.
“As I am speaking to you, there is an ongoing communal war. And in a situation where there is a gun battle, you can’t rule out death; you cannot rule out casualties. A few days ago, (Ibaji) people invaded our area again and there was gun battle among three communities in the area. Eight of our people sustained gunshot wounds and three of them are still in hospital now. If somebody invades your place and starts burning your houses, what will you do?

“Of course, you will defend yourself. When they invaded our villages, they also burnt some schools. One of such schools is Okpaeze Migrant Fishermen School. That school has been there for almost 15 years now. They also burnt Okpuoka Migrant Fishermen School, one of the finest schools in that area. When they started shooting our people, the bullets hit some people while some people escaped.
“But when you have exhausted all your bullets, the people you have been shooting will start pursuing you. They may even pursue you beyond where you took off from. That is what happened a few days ago", Obidigwe said, recounting what propelled a recent clash that led to the death of some people.

The Kogi State government however disagreed with Obidigwe's allegations. The state maintained that Anambra officials were the actual aggressors that victimise the Kogi people in unprovoked attacks.
Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, said it was unfortunate that a government official in the class of a council chairman in Anambra State (Obidigwe) is uttering comments capable of threatening peace and therefore advised the Anambra State Government to call Obidigwe to order.

Awoniyi expressed disdain for the allegation against Kogi State, which he felt was frivolous and deceptive. In his views, a well informed and cautious person like the Anambra State deputy governor or Secretary to Anambra State Government should adjudicate on behalf of the state in a sensitive matter as the disputed oil well, to avoid inflammatory statements.
Also, the Kogi State Liaison Officer for Oil and Gas at Ibaji, Mr. Daniel Omatola, said: "Obidigwe is accusing us of doing what they are doing exactly: Harassment, intimidation, provocation and abduction of Ibaji people and then rush to the media to pass the buck.
"It is not about oil; let us have our farmlands and fishing ponds. We warned our youths not to destroy the refinery because if they destroyed the refinery, they are destroying their own property. It is our farmland; it is our fish ponds we are concerned about. Even if we are not without our own mistakes, on the balance, we are not the aggressors; we are the victims.
"You can feel it from our voices, we have dead relations. The man in Anambra is combative. The man in Kogi is reconciliatory," Omatola said.

As it is, communities in Kogi State seem to be saying they are not too keen about the oil but the farmlands and fish ponds. On the other hand, the Anambra State Government has in place a security patrol team comprising soldiers, police and vigilante groups to protect the assets of the refinery.
Anger raged recently among the Ibaji people when the security reportedly arrested two Kogi indigenes from Odeke community for allegedly burning of thatched roofs in a farm in Anambra area. But the arrested persons were promptly released on the request of the Kogi State Government, which appealed to Anambra State.

“When this patrol is moving around, our people see their movement as an impending attempt to take over and colonise their farmlands. On the other side, when the patrol team sees our people, they are not sure whether they are moving towards their asset or going to their farmlands. The mutual suspicion that exists on either side is a major source of tension, constantly.
“And because Kogi State does not have a similar patrol team along that area; because we don’t have any need for it, our citizens who see this Anambra patrol team and feel threatened now constituted a vigilante group to forestall an imagined invasion. Kogi State Government has appealed to them to leave the bushes.

“After hearing their concerns, a detachment of policemen from Kogi State Police Command has been deployed in the two communities within Kogi State. The presence of police gives the assurance that they will not be invaded.
“With this development, my boss, Capt Idris Wada has sent top government officials from Kogi who are in touch with our counterparts in Anambra. I am in constant touch with the deputy governor of Anambra; the Divisional Police Officers, traditional rulers, DSS, commissioners of police on both sides are in constant touch," Awoniyi explained.

As the dispute persists with accusations and counter-accusations and sustained hostilities and suspicions, which constitute a drawback to efforts by both state governments to maintain peace, the pending demarcation exercise by the National Boundary Commission (NBC) ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan recently made many Nigerians to heave a sigh of relief.
The president's proclamation followed a meeting with Wada and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, in Abuja, where they deliberated on the matter.
After the meeting, a road map to peace was drawn with the creation of buffer zones as the NBC was charged to commence demarcation exercise on the land, expeditiously. Ironically, the exercise meant to commence on April 15 has been stalled by the resumption of hostilities, which has compelled the NBC officials to postpone the exercise indefinitely.

A group, Networks of Igala Association, has appealed to the aggrieved communities to avoid actions capable of sparking "unnecessary ethnic war." It also implored President Jonathan to wade into the lingering boundary dispute between Ibaji community in Kogi State and Aguleri Otu in Anambra State in order to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
President of the group, Dr Goodman Akwu, said since the Orient Oil has the right of exploration of the said oil well, the people of Ibaji in Kogi State, have the right to enjoy the benefit of their land. “It will be a shame if the people or the land that produced the oil for Orient Oils is refused to enjoy the benefit of it.”

In the midst of the controversy, the Chairman of Ibaji Council, David Ina Ogu, has down played the tendency for war and assured the people that peace was in sight.
He said: “People who have influence in their communities must not encourage violence. These are the things we should collectively address. We have always maintained that we can live peacefully with our neighbours. The people at the border share common affinity. We share common language. We fish together and farm together. We share the same natural environment and many of us have inter-married. I do not see any reason for friction if people have the fear of God.

"We must caution people who do not have understanding. We should live in peace and enjoy what God has endowed us with. Our people will continue to remain peaceful. There is no amount of provocation at the moment that will make us to retaliate. That notwithstanding, there must be efforts to protect the lives of people and property at the border communities. People who are involved in the security or other peace processes must not be bias or do anything that will create tension in the area."