A deepening communal conflict between the Bonta community in Konshisha Local Government Area and the Ukpute community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State has led to a major road blockade, effectively isolating the Igede tribe from the state capital, Makurdi.
The crisis, rooted in a long-standing land dispute, has escalated over the years, claiming numerous lives and destroying property, including the tragic deaths of 12 military personnel in 2021.
The latest development sees armed militias from Bonta village blocking a vital road connecting Oju to Makurdi, cutting off the Igede people, Benue’s third-largest ethnic group, who predominantly reside in Oju and Obi Local Government Areas.
Dr. John Ogi, a lecturer at Benue State University, explained that the blockade has severed the Igede community’s access to essential goods and services.
“This blockade has completely cut off the Igede people from the rest of the state, making it nearly impossible for goods and services to move freely,” Ogi said.
The situation is further compounded by the poor condition of an alternative route through Otukpo, which has turned what would normally be a two-hour journey from Oju to Makurdi into a grueling seven-hour ordeal.
The conflict intensified in July 2024 when the militia reportedly seized two trailers carrying fertilizers meant for the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, worsening tensions in the area.
Despite recent assurances from the state governor that peace efforts are ongoing, the situation remains unresolved.
Attempts to obtain a statement from the state police regarding the blockade were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
