Akwa Ibom communities clash over land ownership

Tensions have flared in the coastal regions of Akwa Ibom State as neighbouring communities have reportedly clashed over the ownership of strategic creek land. The dispute, which escalated over the weekend of 24-25 January 2026, centres on access to waterways that are vital for fishing, transport, and potential oil-related compensation.

Reports indicate that the confrontation involved communities in the Eastern Obolo and Ibeno local government areas, though specific village boundaries remain a point of fierce contention.

Communal land disputes in this region are often fueled by the high economic value of the “blue economy”:

Control over the creeks determines who has the primary right to set nets and harvest seafood, the main livelihood for thousands in the area.

Ownership of the land often dictates who receives “host community” benefits and environmental remediation funds from multinational oil companies operating in the Bight of Benin.

Many of these coastal boundaries were never formally surveyed or demarcated with modern technology, leading to “ancestral” claims that overlap.

To prevent further escalation, the Akwa Ibom State Government and the State Police Command have taken the following steps:-

A combined team of the Nigerian Navy and Police Marine Unit has been deployed to the affected creeks to maintain a buffer zone between the warring factions.

Governor Pastor Umo Eno has reportedly summoned the traditional rulers and youth leaders of the affected communities to a closed-door meeting in Uyo to broker an immediate ceasefire.

The state government has warned that any community found to be instigating violence will face “severe legal consequences,” including the possible suspension of government projects in those areas.

Akwa Ibom Coastal Conflict Map (Contextual)