BOUNDARY DISPUTE, SECURITY AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Boundary dispute constitutes a persistent structural threat to communal stability in the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria, in so far as contested claims over land ownership have repeatedly degenerated into violent confrontation, thereby compromising both the physical security of residents and the inter-communal trust on which peaceful co-existence depends. This study investigated the effect of boundary dispute on the security and peaceful co-existence of communities in Umuleri and Aguleri, Ezillo and Ezza, and Usaka Ukwu in South-East Nigeria.