At least 1,796 people have been killed in communal and boundary clashes across Nigeria between January 2018 and August 2025, according to data compiled from media reports and findings by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
The figure underscores a troubling rise in land-related violence, particularly in the southern and North Central regions of the country. PIND revealed that from 2018 to 2022 alone, 676 deaths were recorded, with the death toll escalating in subsequent years.
In Cross River State, over 400 fatalities were reported between January 2020 and December 2023, mainly due to violent land disputes. Delta and Bayelsa states witnessed even higher numbers, with more than 650 deaths recorded in the same period.
PIND identified recent violence in Delta’s Okuama and Bayelsa’s Igbomotoru communities—triggered by land tensions and confrontations with security operatives—as preventable.
“Communal clashes involving security forces have been particularly deadly in Delta and Bayelsa,” the report stated.
Some of the deadliest incidents include:
- Agbudu, Kogi State (July 2020): A land dispute resulted in 14 deaths, 13 from a single family.
- Oju, Benue State (June 2023): 14 killed in a conflict over land.
- Oyofo vs. Awha, Enugu State (August 2023): 4 dead; 12 suspects arrested.
- Omor vs. Anaku, Anambra State (February 2023): 6 killed.
- Ndukwe vs. Okporojo, Ebonyi State (April 2025): 6 killed, including a pregnant woman.
- Akure vs. Idanre, Ondo State (January 2025): 5 killed, 10 injured.
- Bonta vs. Ukpute, Benue State (March 2025): 20 fatalities.
Other smaller incidents involved multiple casualties across Anambra, Osun, and other states, adding to the grim tally.
Despite repeated fatalities, the National Boundary Commission has yet to provide a concrete update on preventive measures, according to The PUNCH.
Security analyst Chidi Omeje criticized the ineffective implementation of the Land Use Act and poor boundary mapping as key drivers of the crisis. He said:
“The government and the Land Use Act have not addressed the core land issues, especially in land-scarce regions like the South-East. That’s why clashes persist.”
He blamed the National Boundary Commission for failing to work efficiently with state governments to resolve disputes, particularly in volatile areas like Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom.
Omeje added that the lack of legal clarity around land ownership, heritage, and access continues to trigger violence:
“Peace won’t reign where there are disjointed laws on land, especially in areas where land is scarce and vital to local livelihoods.”
He urged the federal and state governments to proactively resolve boundary disputes to prevent further bloodshed and foster lasting peace.
