Crisis: 2 Communities fight dirty over ownership of fish pond in Benue 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Egba community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, on Tuesday, expressed concerns over renewed tensions with neighbouring Ologba community regarding ownership of a disputed pond.

There have been crisis between Egba and Ologba communities which dates back to more than five decades.  

Raising alarm in an interview with journalists,  a representative of Egba community, Mr Ikpa Amadu, recalled that the dispute was first resolved in 1972 when an area court under the then Benue-Plateau administration visited the pond site and established a boundary at Idogo. 

He explained that in the ruling, land east of Idogo was allocated to the Egba people, while the western portion was designated for the Ologba community.  

Mr Amadu explained that the arrangement had prevented further disputes until recent years, when some Ologba individuals accused other Egba individuals of allegedly forging court documents to claim ownership of the pond. 

In 2024, a new judgement was delivered in favour of Ologba, which, he argued, failed to take into account the earlier ruling.  

“What is disturbing the community now is that these people are planning to use the military to enforce the judgement, which I think is not good,” Mr Amadu said. 

He urged the local government chairman to advise against taking the law into their own hands, noting that another case concerning the matter is still pending in court.  

The Egba community has appealed to the Benue State Government to intervene, stressing that the dispute has already led to loss of lives and destruction of property. 

Mr Amadu emphasised that while tensions remain high, community leaders have urged residents to remain calm and allow justice to prevail.  

“There has not been any physical molestation of anyone from the opposing communities,” he added. “What we are saying is that there are two judgements in place now, and we have to be careful in handling the issue rather than using force. We want fairness, not violence.”  

“We are calling for the state government to enforce the original boundary ruling and ensure that neither side trespasses beyond agreed limits, in order to prevent further escalation of the crisis”, he added

When contacted the executive chairman of Agatu local government council, Melvin James- Ejeh confirmed that some tensions and skirmishes are breezing around the pond site.

According to him, there was court judgement that ceded some fish ponds and some areas to Ologba community of Agatu.

” It is very true that the crisis is an aged long one that started  since 1972. The crisis started before I was born and even  before my mother got married. Good enough and proudly, my mother is from one of the communities, 

Egba community, where the judgement is against. But as council chairman and servant of the people, we must stand by the truth and justice.

“In every Judgement of this nature, and in every dispute once  a party is declared winner there is bound to be tension and skirmishes. However, we are on top of the situation to ensure that no crisis erupted from the judgement.

 I have talked with the Egba people that they should be open and that if they are not comfortable with the judgement, they should appeal it and if they don’t appeal this judgement stance. 

Up till now I have not receive official communication from the Egba people with regards to appeal the judgement. Few weeks ago,  

The court came to execute the judgement and gave documents to the Egba community declaring Ologba community as the owner of the pond. 

“The the council has affirmed the judgement that gave the ownership of the ponds and ceded the ponds and the land to Ologba community. Agatu local government didn’t gave the judgement and as a responsible government, we must obey court order”, Ejeh affirmed.