UDEVI, OBIAMAKA ANGELA PG/MA/11/58402

Transcription

1 UDEVI, OBIAMAKA ANGELA PG/MA/11/58402 AGULERI-UMULERI COMMUNAL CONFLICT, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONA AL STUDIES FACULTY OF ARTS Ugboaku, Edith J. Digitally Signed by: Content manager s Name DN : CN = Webmaster s name O = University of Nigeria, Nsukka i

2 TITLE PAGE AGULERI-UMULERI COMMUNAL CONFLICT, BY UDEVI, OBIAMAKA ANGELA PG/MA/11/58402 A MASTER THESIS PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A) OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA SUPERVISOR: PROF. UCHENNA ANYANWU MAY, 2013 ii

3 APPROVAL PAGE This thesis has been approved by the Department of History and International Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka BY Professor Uchenna Anyanwu Supervisor Dr. Paul Obi-Ani Internal Examiner Dr. Paul Obi-Ani External Examiner Head of Department Professor Uchenna Anyanwu Dean, Faculty of Arts iii

4 CERTIFICATION Udevi, Obiamaka Angela, a post-graduate student in the Department of History and International Studies with registration number, PG/MA/11/58402 has satisfactorily completed the requirement for the course and research work for the award of the degree of Master of Arts. The work embodied in this thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other diploma or degree of in this university or any other university. Professor Uchenna Anyanwu Supervisor Dr. Paul Obi-Ani Head of Department iv

5 DEDICATION To my father, Hon. Barr. Iveanyi Udevi-Aruevoru and the peacemakers of Aguleri and Umuleri. v

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with utmost humility that I thank all those who contributed to the success of this work. In as much as I may not remember specifically all who assisted in the successful completion of this work, their contributions are noted and appreciated. Special thanks go to my supervisor, Professor Uchenna Anyanwu. His scholarly attention, useful suggestions and patience contributed enormously to the success of this work. I am indebted to Dr. Opata for his advice, corrections and encouragement. I sincerely thank Mr. Obinna Muoh and Mr. Bright Alozie, for their meaningful contributions and constructive criticisms. I acknowledge the authors whose works I quoted and referenced. I thank the staff of National Archives Enugu and the Anambra State Library, Onitsha for assisting me with materials for this work. I also appreciate my colleagues and friends, Mr. Dozie Nwafor, Mr. Chukwudi Nwokolo and Mr. Emeka Ogbonnaya. Their advice and computer expertise contributed immensely to the success of my work. I owe a debt of gratitude to my father, Hon. Barr. Iveanyi Udevi Aruevoru for his financial and moral support. I also appreciate his assistance in gathering materials for my work and for tirelessly editing my work. You are the best father in the world. I hope you know how much I appreciate all you have done for me. I thank my siblings, Chineme, Chinenye (Oliaku anyi) and Chibuzo for their understanding and support. My gratitude also goes to my second parents, Engr. and Mrs. G.S. Nwume whose door is always open to me no matter the hour. Finally, I thank my roommates, Mabel Okpala-Okaka, Maureen Obiezu, Nonye Egbuna-Ojukwu Judith Ogbaje, Uche Okeke-Aji, Josephine Jonathan and Mrs. Constance Iwuoha for making the room conducive for me to work. vi

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE i APPROVAL PAGE ii CERTIFICATION iii DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v MAP OF AGULERI AND UMULERI SHOWING OTUOCHA vi MAP OF IGBOLAND SHOWING AGULERI, UMULERI AND OTUOCHA vii ABSTRACT viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM PURPOSE OF THE STUDY SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY SCOPE OF THE STUDY LITERATURE REVIEW SOURCES AND METHODS vii

8 CHAPTER TWO: THE AGULERI-UMULERI CONFLICT UP TO 1963 GOLDEN AGE OF AGULERI AND UMULERI UMUOBA-ANAM SETTLEMENT IN OTUOCHA BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN AGULERI AND UMULERI AGULERI-UMULERI CONFLICT OF CHAPTER THREE: AGULERI-UMULERI CONFLICTS, The CONFLICT OF The CONFLICT OF A RE-APPRAISAL OF GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER ON THE AGULERI-UMULERI COMMUNAL CONFLICT OF THE CONFLICT OF UMUOBA-ANAM FACTOR IN AGULERI-UMULERI CONFLICT OF CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE CONFLICTS ON BOTH COMMUNITIES SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE CONFLICTS ON BOTH COMMUNITIES IMPACT OF THE CONFLICTS ON NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES viii

9 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION CONCLUSION APPENDIXES BIBLIOGRAPHY ix

10 x

11 MAP OF IGBOLAND SHOWING AGULERI, UMULERI AND OTUOCHA xi

12 ABSTRACT Nigerians are no strangers to conflicts. Since independence, Nigeria has been plagued by one form of conflict or the other. Communal conflicts are a common type of conflict in Nigeria and are usually caused by struggle for ownership of land. The conflicts in Aguleri and Umuleri in South eastern Nigeria are good examples of communal conflicts. In both communities, land is central to the continuity of life and their attachment to land places it in a unique position. In their belief that the end justifies the means, Aguleri and Umuleri have fought ferociously to hold on to the Otuocha land and to other lands in dispute undeterred by the thousands of lives and properties they had lost. Over the years, the conflicts between the two communities have received a lot of academic and media attention. This is probably because of its resurgence. Yet, in spite of the number of literature available on the conflict between the two communities, little has been said about the conflict of 1964 and none of the scholars on this conflict have taken note of the fact that the conflict of 1964 did more than strain the relationship between the two communities. It gave birth to a heightened level of violence which increased in 1995 and reached an alarming proportion in the conflict of This work discusses Aguleri-Umuleri communal conflicts from It will also portray the increase in the level of violence in the conflicts and the role the elites and political class in both communities have played in the escalation of conflicts. The effects of the conflicts on both communities and on neighbouring communities will also be discussed. This research will serve as a springboard for future researches on the conflict between Aguleri and Umuleri. xii