27/12/2025
Idogo Stream, Not Ponds: Setting the Record Straight on the 1972 Judgement.
For weeks, we have consistently used this platform, The Idoma People-Tip, to document, explain, and preserve the historical court cases and judgements surrounding one of the oldest and brut@l communal crises in Nigeria, the Ologba–Egba communal dispute. This is not driven by sentiment, propaganda, or community bias, but by a commitment to truth, justice, and lasting peace.
Once again, I am posting excerpts from the 1972 court proceedings and judgement between Ologba and Egba communities so the public, government authorities, historians, and peace actors can see the facts exactly as they were recorded by the court.
From the evidence clearly captured in the judgement, the matter before the court in 1972 was Idogo Stream, not ponds, not artificial water bodies, and not fishing ponds as is now being falsely circulated. The court repeatedly and consistently referred to Idogo strictly as a stream. The court even made a specific clarification that Idogo is a stream and not a pond, after conducting a physical inspection of the disputed area.
The judgement shows that witnesses were called by both parties. While the plaintiff presented witnesses claiming ownership, the defendant also presented witnesses, including the District Head of Agatu, who clearly described the natural flow of Idogo Stream from Ogbaulu hill toward Eji. Testimonies further explained which portions were traditionally associated with which communities, and that the stream itself existed naturally, covered with palm trees that neither party planted.
Nowhere in the judgement did the court declare Idogo as ponds belonging to the Egba community. Nowhere did the court award fishing ponds, hunting ponds, or man made water bodies to any party. The repeated insertion of the word “ and ponds” into the judgement by the Egba community is a clear alteration of a judicial record, and this distortion has continued to fuel confusion, resentment, and unnecessary hostility.
It is also important to note that the court acknowledged that valuable trees around the stream were not planted by either party, meaning ownership claims based on plantation or artificial development were unfounded. The court dealt with a natural stream and its surrounding forest, not engineered or constructed ponds.
This deliberate alteration of the judgement is dangerous. When court decisions are manipulated, peace becomes impossible. Young people are misinformed, grievances are transferred across generations, and violence is easily justified on false premises.
This is why we are once again calling on the Benue State Government , relevant federal authorities, traditional councils, and security agencies to intervene decisively. The original court records should be officially reviewed, clarified, and publicly affirmed. Any falsification or misrepresentation of judicial documents must be addressed, not ignored.
Peace cannot be built on lies. Reconciliation cannot survive on altered history. Justice demands accuracy, and development requires truth.
We encourage everyone to read these documents carefully, not selectively. Let us stop spreading edited narratives and start engaging with facts. The goal is not to inflame tensions, but to lay a truthful foundation for lasting peace between Ologba and Egba communities.
History is watching us. Future generations will ask whether we chose truth or convenience.
Disclaimer: This publication is strictly for historical clarification, public education, and peace advocacy. It is based on available court records and documented proceedings from the 1972 Ologba–Egba case. It is not intended to incite hostility, promote hatred, or undermine any community or traditional institution. All references are made in good faith and solely to encourage transparency, lawful review, and constructive government intervention in the interest of lasting peace and justice.
✍️Idoma Ancestral Roots
