22/12/2025
INTRODUCTION
Background history
The Bahumono people are dominant indigenous ethnic group Comprising Nine Communities in Abi Local Government Area, they speak the hohumono language and have a distinct cultural and historical identity similar with their Efik, Ejagham, and Yakurr neighbors. Their history is one of migration, settlement and resilience in the forest and riverine valleys of central Cross River. They expanded their living from Otumusa to their present places mostly westward to the bank of the cross river which forms the natural western boundary of Bhahomono.
The land of Bhahomono is bounded by the Cross River in the west, by the land of Biase local Government in the South, by the land of Yakkur in the North and by the land of Agbo in the West.
The Devastating Impact of Inter-Communal Conflict: A Call to Action:
The recent inter-communal conflict in bhahomono communities has left an indelible mark on the hearts of the people. As a peace-loving people, we cannot afford to ignore the devastating impact of this conflict on our communities.
The conflict has brought development to a grinding halt. Infrastructural projects, once underway, now lie abandoned. Schools and healthcare centers, meant to serve the communities, have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible. The economy is in shambles, with local businesses struggling to survive. The conflict has pushed our communities back in time. Social cohesion, once a hallmark of our society, has been eroded. Fear, mistrust, and hatred now dominate our interactions. The youths, our future leaders, are growing up with a distorted view of their neighbors, perpetuating a cycle of violence.
The conflict has unleashed a wave of hate and intolerance.
The ebom/Ebijakara conflict which emanated on the 11/01/2006, has a divesting consequence on both communities but majorly on the part of ebijakara, lives have been lost, families displaced, community destroyed and the people of Ebijakara community are scattered all over the neighbouring communities within and outside Cross River State as internally displaced persons Without government attention. While we are advocating for peace and coexistence among one another, the people of Ebijakara should be allowed to return back peacefully to their ancestral home as the five years of peace after the conflict is enough for any heated mind to be cold and accept this peace whole heartedly, as we give way to a bhahomono of our dreams. Even though many people from both sides had lost their lives, Mothers, fathers and siblings have loose love one, there is a need to say enough is enough to this form of hostility in bhahomono land. As a people, we should appreciate God and make judicious use of these opportunity God has given us because we had once missed a similar golden opportunity on the 20th June 2020 to put all the conflict to an end and accept peace whole heartedly and today, we are here again for the second time. (Bhahomono must learn to live above sentiment)
this should not be a bhahomono usual style where we will just come together just like the 20 june 2020 ceremony where the intentions was to calm nerves.
*The Survival of Bhahomono*
this should be about if the Bhahomono Kingdom wants to survive or intends to survive or not.
we are envisaging a bhahomono of our dreams, a bhahomono without boundaries, we as a people must live up to expectations and hold offenders to ransom by living up to the occasions to treat issues of concern with utmost sincerity if we must grow without form of sentiments. let us stop the attitude of if i say it now is my name they will mention, this is a negative syndrome and is not doing us any good. bhahomono is a big nation and we should stop allowing individuals to continue dragging us backward.
“Seeking peace and development in Bahomono ” should not be a slogan for speeches, press releases and seminar hall discussions just like the one we are having now.
Punishable actions should be get punishable consequences.
If the bhahomono people cannot summon the will or courage to punish those who seek to destroy it, then it should stop pretending to seeking peace among its territories because wars are not won with hesitation.
They are not won with mixed signals.
They are not won by protecting the feelings of offenders.
Wars are won with resolving pending and critical issues of concern just like the unconditional return of Ebijakara community back to their ancestral home to set a positive precedent to our sons and daughters, knowing fully well that war is never an avenue for convertiousness and will serve as a deterrent to other communities.
We are aware the emotional scars will take years to heal but five years of peace in bhahomono land should be enough to begin leaving together, mourning of losses will never end but we must acknowledge that hate begets hate, so there is a need to let go and coexist as before.
The bhahomono have to frown at attitude that are capable of escalating into a full-blown conflict and possession of fresh land or taken what belong to another person in the name of conquest or peace is not the behavior among the bhahomono people.
If this is left unchecked, intercommunal conflict and forcefully claiming of land ownership will be a norm in bhahomono communities where a bigger or more sophisticated community will forcefully fight and chase another community to occupied their land by restraining the other community from accessing their ancestral home.
Bhahomono and other peace-loving individuals should not allow this practice of land grabbing to become a norm as this is capable of dragging us back into the days of old.
We, the people, must demand peace. We must reject hate and embrace coexistence. We must work towards rebuilding our communities, promoting understanding, and fostering development.
*Traditional way for permanent peace in Bhahomono*
according to research and findings, in many Nigerian cultures, communities would use "Blood Covenant" or "Oath-Taking"ceremonies to bind themselves to peace.
- Leaders from both communities would meet, often with elders and spiritual leaders.
- An animal (like a goat or cow) would be slaughtered, and the leaders would drink a mixture of the blood, water, and sometimes other symbolic items.
- They will declare a covenant, promising not to fight, and invoke curses on anyone who breaks the pact.
- The communities would share food, symbolizing unity and shared responsibility.
This creates a strong spiritual and social bond, making conflict a taboo among the people.
Bhahomono is a traditional people with African cultures inherent to them, the above mentioned way to arrest and exterminate communal conflicts among the Bhahomono is not and should not be a new practice among us.
our forefathers have been doing it. let us look for a way to bind and bound bhahomono of our dreams.
Conclusively, to achieve the above mentioned:
- we must stand in a scale of justice where truth will be told without any form of fear
- be of good conduct,
- appreciate one another
- respect to all communities no matter the size.
- support development initiatives
- empower our youth with values of tolerance and love
- build a brighter future for all
- Establish a truth-telling and reconciliation commission
- Implement joint development projects
- Provide support for affected communities.
God bless us as we stay together,
As we can heal,
as we rebuild, and thrive for a better ehumono without boundaries. God bless Bhahomono Nation.
Emmanuel Moses.
