By Kelvin Obambon
The Yakurr Peoples Club (YPC), Abuja branch, has called for calm following reports of escalating tensions between Ugep and Idomi communities in Yakurr Local Government Area.
In a press release issued on May 1, 2026, the club expressed deep concern over a “lingering land dispute” and urged leaders of both communities to exercise maximum restraint and prioritize peaceful dialogue over confrontation.
The YPC warned that any descent into violence would constitute a direct violation of the historic Ekori Peace Accord of 2017. The accord, reached under the “Yakurr Peace Mission,” serves as a collective covenant among all Yakurr communities to prevent internal bloodshed.
“The historic accord, reached in Ekori, remains the definitive framework for preserving peace, unity, and mutual respect among all communities,” the statement read.
The club reminded the warring factions that the 2017 agreement stipulates unified communal and institutional consequences for any community that initiates violence. “No grievance, no territorial disagreement, and no provocation is sufficient justification for bloodshed among brothers,” the YPC declared.
To prevent a breakdown of law and order, the YPC outlined four immediate requirements for both Ugep and Idomi, including immediate de-escalation by all parties, cessation of inflammatory rhetoric, strict restraint of youth mobilization, and recourse to lawful and traditional dispute resolution channels.
The statement, signed by the YPC President, Grp. Capt. Eloma Ekpo Ikona (Rtd), and Secretary-General Omini Oden, emphasized that the progress of the Yakurr people depends entirely on sustained peace. They warned that history would “judge harshly” any leader whose actions trigger avoidable conflict.
“The Ekori Peace Accord 2017 was born out of pain and sacrifice. It must not be dishonored by recklessness,” the club stated. “Yakurr has moved beyond internal conflict and there must be no return to those dark days.”
The YPC concluded with a firm collective declaration: “Peace is not weakness; it is the highest expression of responsible leadership… Yakurr must not fight Yakurr. Not again. Not now. Not ever.”
