Mararaba Udege Communal Crisis and The Audacity of Ignorant Opinion Holders
By; Yahaya Kana Onzonu
In today’s world, social media has become an omnipresent platform for discourse, giving every individual the power to voice their thoughts on virtually any topic. From global politics to local disputes, the democratization of opinion-sharing has opened doors to a flood of perspectives. While this has broadened access to information, it has also invited a dangerous trend—the prevalence of uninformed, often malicious, opinions. It has opened the door even for the most ill-informed of individuals to hold opinions on issues they know nothing about.
Rumours that have trailed the Communal crisis in Mararaba Udege illustrates this point with painful clarity. The crisis, a conflict which many tried to make look like a face-off between the Eloyi (Afo) people of the Ambu and Eki divide, has been the subject of widespread speculation, especially on social media. Yet, this conflict was less about these divides and more a dispute between the Ebbe and Odu communities—all part of the broader Eloyi (Afo) people – both brothers with shared ancestry, language, culture, and traditions.
While many of us took the path of neutrality in consideration of the nuanced complexities of the situation, many armchair commentators have spun their own narratives, some of which are woefully ignorant or disturbingly conspiratorial. Worse still, those with no direct stake in the matter have turned the unfortunate conflict into a spectacle of blame and unfounded allegations, tainting the reputations of individuals who had no hand in the tragedy.
Rather than deal in facts, many people have taken hearsay as the truth, spurning dangerous narratives that continue to fuel the silent animosity that’s simmering even now. Some people feel empowered to speak out, even when their knowledge of the matter is limited to half-truths, outright lies or fragmented news reports. It is not uncommon for these opinions to be not just “watery” but outright dumb, as some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the so called major actors of the Mararaba Udege imbroiglio reveal. Worse yet, any attempt to correct these ill-informed individuals often invites a barrage of insults, with many doubling down on their misguided views rather than considering alternative explanations.
While the causes of the Mararaba conflict remain either a subject of speculation considering the many conspiracies that have been spurned as the basis for the grievances, the generally believed cause of the disagreement is said to be land disputes. Whether we want to believe conspiracies or pitch tent with findings of the committee set up by the Nasarawa state governor to investigate the situation, one thing is certain, nothing can take the place of the truth. This is even so seeing how misinformation has been rampant, leading to baseless accusations and dangerous finger-pointing.
One rumor that has stubbornly refused to die down concerns a high-ranking military officer of Eloyi extraction. This individual, who has served his country with dignity and professionalism, has become a scapegoat in the narratives spun by some from both sides of the divide. Some, believed to be failed politicians of Eki extraction looking to profit from the crisis, on one hand, have sold the narrative that he may have secretly supported the Ambu faction due to his lineage. Meanwhile, failed political actors of the Ambu section have whipped the people into a furious frenzy, accusing him of failing to support them despite his high military standing. And although, these conflicting accusations highlight the absurdity of the situation, both sides have refused to tone down on these outright lies and this is disturbing.
The truth is, this officer, bound by the ethics of his profession, has not only maintained a neutral stance throughout the crisis, he has only furthered the cause of the Eloyi throughout his years of service. This man spent sleepless nights worrying about the conflict, calling for meetings and offering counsel to the Nasarawa state government on how to handle the situation. In every sense of the word, he remained a professional, avoiding any appearance of bias or favouritism. This is a man who has benefitted every part of our land with his impact without bias.
Sadly, he has been reduced to the pettiness of a deliberate attempt by some charlatans to tarnish his reputation – soil the good name of a man who has has been flying the Eloyi flag with pride all his life. I understand that in this era where rumors spread faster than facts, the line between truth and lies becomes blurred. However, there is an extent to how far these damning lies can be entertained.
Let it be known, that the actions of the military during the Mararaba Udege crisis is a matter for the commanding officer of the operational area to clarify, not for faceless commentators to distort with lies and misinformation. This desperation to weaponize rumours won’t change the fact of the matter, and posterity awaits all who played a role in the madness of Mararaba Udege.
Let me conclude by reminding us that this military officer is no politician. Therefore, unlike politicians who thrive on public opinion, he is not beholden to anyone’s approval. He is not running for office, nor is he interested in the murky world of politics. His only crime, it seems, is holding a high military rank during the time of the Mararaba crisis.
From the rumours flying around, you could see the audacity of those who feel he owes them an explanation, a situation that can only be described as astonishing. However, given the ethics of his profession which prevents him from engaging in public debates or defending himself against unfounded accusations, he has maintained a dignified silence, but it is beginning to seem like his silence is emboldening the dangerous narratives.
I challenge everyone who feels aggrieved by the actions or inactions of this military officer, to confront him directly, instead of hiding behind malicious rumours to slander a man’s name without evidence, a situation that only deepens divisions and distracts from the real issues at hand.
Let me close by insisting that the Mararaba Udege crisis is a tragedy that should prompt sober reflection and healing, not the reckless spread of misinformation. Let us focus on resolving the conflict and preventing future outbreaks of violence, rather than tearing down individuals who had no part in the bloodshed. If we continue to let ignorance and rumour-mongering guide our conversations, we risk deepening the wounds that are already too raw.
Onzonu writes from Eloyi Mba-Odama in Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa state…
