Crisis N Aguleri-Umuleri - 2395 Words

Aguleri-Umuleri Crisis. Summary Not only is the incidence of land disputes increasing, they are becoming increasingly serious too. Many lives have already been lost while property with a value running into hundreds of millions has been destroyed. The stress, bereavement impoverishment, disruption of social life and insecurity caused by these conflicts is enormous and is inimical to the development of the communities concerned. This article presents a critical analysis of one such conflict - the ongoing dispute between the Aguleri and Umuleri. It aims to show how these conflicts can be explained with reference to the pre-colonial era, to describe their nature and intensity, to present an account of the intervention strategies that have been†¦show more content†¦It was this land, which was either granted or seized, that was to become the most common source of conflict among neighbouring communities. This conflict was also aggravated by competition among European communities, particularly among different chur ches and levantine companies. In some places, neighbouring communities became divided among two missions. A grant of land to one meant a counter-grant to the other. Where disputed territory is involved, a spiral of conflict is immediately unleashed. The Otuocha land dispute between the Aguleri and Umuleri communities clearly illustrates the role of Europeans in creating and intensifying land disputes. This is a case of grant and counter-grant, sale and counter-sale to Europeans of land that had, historically, been used by the two communities in common without problem. For one thing, the colonial dispensation created a local class of petty-bourgeois who sought property in land for various reasons. This group of social agents became the champions of the interests of their communities chiefly for the purpose of securing political backing for their interests. The burgeoning of town unions, that became the stepping stone for petty-bourgeois political aspirations, is a remarkable feature of this era. Politically and economically marginalised by colonialism, this was the only platform readily open to the petty-bourgeoisie. They therefore became the vanguard of their communities in the various land disputes. Lawyers wereShow MoreRelatedSocio-Economic and Political Dimensions of Conflict4145 Words   |  17 Pagespeaceful co-existence of individuals and groups. Conversely, non-attainment of these conditions is the precursor of disputes, disagreements and violent agitations, the end product of which is social conflict. In the light of the foregoing, Ibenwa C. N. posits that conflict is ontologically rooted in human insatiable and often incompatible needs. The denial of these needs, the author further stated, makes resolvable conflicts to degenerate into violent agitations or armed conflict. Essentially, conflictRead MoreCommunal Conflict in Tiv Land: Strategy for Resolution4118 Words   |  17 PagesKaduna State, 1999; Ijaw and Istekiris of Warri in Delta State, 1999; Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba ethnic conflicts in Oyo and Lagos States respectively, 1999/2000; Jukun/Chamba and Kuteb, Jukun and Tiv in Taraba State, 1998/1999; Igbakwu-Omor, Aguleri and Umuleri communal conflicts of Anambra State, 1999 (Isa, 2001). In Tivland, some of the most notable conflicts include the following: The 1947 chieftaincy riots in Makurdi, Ushongo-Iharev, Isherev-Utyondu, Tiv-Jukun, Tiv-Udam. According to Ayua (2006)