GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

Communal conflicts and violence have become a plague that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian economy. The goal of this study is to identify the indicators of conflicts in Akwa Ibom State with particular reference to Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Conflicts and provide ways of managing the conflicts. The study adopted a survey research design with the questionnaire and interview schedule as the research instruments. It surveyed four hundred respondents who were selected as samples using the Taro Yamane’s finite population formula. The sampling frames were the people living in the locality of both local government areas. The sample represented members of five villages, each selected from the four districts that make up Etim Ekpo L.G.A., as well as, five villages, each selected from the three districts that make up Ika L.G.A., and the general populace of both local government areas. Findings revealed that land disputes, Chieftaincy disputes (i.e., traditional ruler tussles), food insecurity, poverty, unemployment etc, are contributory factors to communal conflicts in Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Area and by extension, Akwa Ibom State. This study therefore recommends among others, equitable distribution of land, demarcation of boundary, employment opportunities, public education/enlightenment to reduce the adverse effects of communal conflicts.