I feel extremely sad that Omagede/ Otutubatu people of Omala are going through another orgy of blood letting. My sympathy goes to the people of Omala for the continuous loss of the lives of their people.
To understand the issues involved in the perennial security breach in Omala we must look at the historical background, economic reasons and how people in high places ( including some elites) have become dishonest on the main issues involved. Unless we discuss the security lapses in Omala with patriotic and honest intentions, we will never arrive at solutions that could prevent further escalation and more casuaties. I therefore wish to give a historical background, ,economic and other reasons fueling the crisis.
A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Great Succession War A great war of succession was bitterly fought between the royal family of Igalaland at Idsh and Abejukolo- Ife. The dynastic struggle broke out when the crown princes of Ife refused to accept the authority, power and legitimacy of an Idah prince who declared himself as the Attah ( then Attah Idah). Although Ife did not declared her independence , it refused to take orders from Idah.
During the dynastic strugglel people of Ihiankpe (Idomas from Benue) fought on the side of the Onu-Ife. They settled permamnently on a land given to them by the Onu-Ife as compensation after the civil war. The land given to Ihiankpe has boundary with the area occupied and controlled by Onu Omagede.
Both Ihiankpe and Omagede are sworn enemies up to this day. We can see why Ihiankpe who fought in the civil war on the side of Onu-Ife are not friends to Omagede. It is a case of my friend’s enemy is my enemy
The Rise And Economic Importance of Bagana
In the 19th C, European traders of the Royal Niger Company estsblished its third river port in Igalaland at Bagana after that of Idah and Itobe. Until their arrival, Bagana was a small village controlled by the people of Omagede, an ancient Igala clan whose chief was (and still remains) the official guardian of the tomb of Abutu Eje, the Igala patriarch. This sacred site is the Otutubatu. With commerce and the economic activities in Bagana, many tribes including Kakanda, Ihiankpe, Nupe Hausas etc added to the population of Igalas in Bagana.
The Onu Omagede/ Otutubatu collected royalties from the Europeans and sent returns direct to the Attah Igala at Idah. You can imagine the feelings of the sidelined Onu-Ife who owns Ife land. Such sour relationships account for the bad blood between Onu-Ife and Onu Bagana and also explains the security breaches in Omala today.
The Legal Perspective
The Onu-Ife and Ihiankpe attempted to undermine Onu- Omageade/Otutubatu snd his people, the Onu took the matter to court.with a successful outcome. The Onu Otutubatu has been winning all the legal contests from the Palace of Attah Igala through the native courts and High Court. The courts declared Onu Omagede as the legitimate Onu Bagan̈a. I sighted these documents.
The Warrig Parties And Their Roles
The Ihiankpe and Omagede are the frontline enemies. The mercenary forces ( Fulanis for Ihiankpe and Agatus for Omagede) are often directly involved in the Omala conflict.
Ihiankpe Clan
. They are friends to the Fulanis.
. They gave part of their land to Fulanis to live.
. They hire the armed Fulanis to fight Omagede and the Agatus.
Till this day they lay claim to ownership of Bagana.
. They are in the good books of the Ojogba Onu-Ife.
The Omagede/ Otutubatu
. They consider Bagana as their land.
. They consider Ihiankpes as strangers who are not keeping to their lane.
. They hire Agatu militants to fight Fulanis.
. They are defiant and always ready to fight back when attacked.
. The youths respect and love their clan chief.
. They easily resort to litigation.
. They are suspicious of the Onu-Ife and consider the Ihiankpe as Onu-Ife’s agents.
The 0nu-Ife
. HRH is not happy with Onu Omagede and he does not hide it.
. He is at home with Ihankpe and would rather absolve them of any aggression against Omagede.
. He has severally reported the disloyal “Agatu” clan in Omagede/Otutubatu to Attah Igala.
. The Ojogba does not recognise the Omagede as Igalas.
The Fulanis
. They are firmly occupying part of Omala.
. They have expansionist agenda to make inroad into the forests in Igala land.
. Although the Onu-Ife does not like them HRM condones their operations against Omagede people.
WHAT MUST BE DONE
The government of Kogi State, the Attah Igala in-Council and well meaning stakeholders must solve Omala Security threats without further delay. The Fulani will continue to have serious inroad into Omala and Igalaland if things are left the way they are.
Each party must consider the following suggestions for lasting peace in Omala:
Kogi State Government
a. The government must ensure a full Battalion of Infantry soldiers is stationed in Bagan̈a to serve as deterrence to the warring factions.
b. The government must exert its authority on the LGA Chairman and traditional rulers whose taciturn attitude encourages the Fulanis to use Omala as the staging ground for further exploits in Igalaland.
The Onu-Ife
His Royal Highness has solutions to the problems and he can return peace to his domain doing the following:
a. He should genuinely forgive the perceived sins of his subordinate, the Third Class Onu Omagede/Otutubatu and his people.
b. He should draw Onu Otutubatu and his people closer to him after assuring them of genuine forgiveness.
c. He should make peace with his subjects, Ihiankpe allies and the Omagede people.
d. He should work hard and proactively continue to requestxthe security agencies to rid his domain of Fulani bandits and Agatu militants.
e. He should admit Onu Omagede to his Council and recognise him as the legal Onu Bagana as declared by the courts.
f. He should institute a committee to recommend future steps to be taken against those who invite Fulani bandits and Agatu militants to Omala.
Onu Omagede/ Otutubatu
a. He must stop putting so much emphasis and trust in legal pronouncements instead of taking actions that will engender peaceful co-exisrence. The human spirit and sincere intentions , not the letters of the law will bring lasting peace to Bagana.
b. He must accept the Ihiankpe people as stakeholders in Bagana, even as he is the Onu Bagana and their overlord.
c. His loyalty to Ojogba, Onu-Ife must not be in doubt. Trust, they say begets trust.
d. He must not solicit for any form of support from armed militia groups, especially the Agatu militias who are avowed enemies of the Fulanis and Iniankpe pèople.
Ihiankpe
The Ihiankpe have always suffered heavily in the clashes with Omagede people.
a. They should stop hiring Fulanis as mercenaries.
b. They must realise the danger Fulani expantionists pose to the safety of Igala land.
c. They must enter into a permanent peace pact with Omagede, brokered by Onu-Ife and Attah Igala-in-Council
d. They must work harder at achieving peace that going to war.
e. They nust use diplomacy in disengaging the Fulanis from the land they gave to them.
Col. Suleiman Babanawa Rtd
24/05/2025
