The Nigerian State And The Management Of Border Conflicts: A Focus On Amagu And Adadama Border Conflict

Abstract

There exist myriads of conflicts in Nigeria, and these conflicts arise majorly from the struggle in the ownership of land (especially around communal boundaries). Thus, in defence of community pride, properties and its inhabitants, communities engage in feuds where in most cases lead to full-scale war with attendant consequences, allowing for management mechanisms. The study sets out to examine the role of the state/government in the management of border conflicts, with focus on Amagu/Adadama border conflict in Ebonyi and Cross River states respectively. The paper argues that the state as the possessor of all the apparatus of force with the ability to compel and enforce obedience in troubled areas where local authorities have failed, has to ensure that all avenues of conciliation, mediation, arbitration and the use of force when necessary to achieve peace. Albeit, the intermittent eruption of communal conflict in Amagu/Adadama communities, portrays to a large extent that the states have somewhat failed in their traditional responsibility in quelling the border conflict of the duo communities. The study harps on fragile state theory as its beacon of analysis; adopting explanatory research design, documentary method of data collection and qualitative method of analysis as its analytical base. Findings amongst others, show that the intermittent eruption of conflict in Amagu/Adadama communities is premised on the failure of government to manage and/or proffer lasting solution to the dispute. The study recommends that the federal government and the government of both states should whole-heartedly work out measures to manage and forestall border conflict in these communities.