The Obudu Urban One Traditional Rulers Council has appealed to the Federal Government, the governments of Cross River and Benue States, and the National Boundary Commission to urgently intervene in the protracted boundary dispute between Abonkib community in Cross River State and the Mbazerem community in Benue State.
In a press statement issued on July 22, 2025, and signed by members of the council, the traditional rulers expressed deep concern over the lingering crisis, which they said has persisted for over 75 years, and called for decisive action to prevent further loss of life and disruption of peace.
The council condemned the recent killing of a commercial driver of Benue origin, which has rekindled tensions between the two border communities. While expressing sympathy to the victim’s family, the council clarified that the incident was not a communal attack but rather a spillover from ongoing cult-related violence in the area.
According to the council, the recent attack was allegedly in retaliation for the earlier killing of two suspected cult members—Nicholas Akiekeye and Akeh Ingio—believed to be indigenes of the Mbazerem community. The traditional rulers emphasized that historically, violence between the two communities has largely occurred in the forested boundary regions and has never escalated into Obudu town itself.
They urged the media to report the crisis with balance and responsibility, warning that biased or inflammatory coverage only exacerbates tensions and undermines peace efforts.
“No commission of inquiry has been constituted since the frequent skirmishes between both communities began,” the statement read. “We call on all relevant authorities to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves, as continued neglect only endangers more lives and threatens regional stability.”
The council reaffirmed its commitment to peace and coexistence, and encouraged both communities to resist provocation and cooperate with security agencies and mediating bodies.
The boundary dispute, which dates back to the pre-independence era, remains one of the most intractable in Nigeria’s Middle Belt-South border corridor.
