This paper is predicated on the border factor in the unending brawls along the borderlands of Benue and Taraba States. It interrogates the contending issues along the Benue–Taraba boundary from 1990 to 2015. The paper considers some operational terminologies and offers a description of the Benue–Taraba boundary. Generic issues surrounding boundaries, as well as the basic characteristics of boundary and borderland, are discussed.

The paper adopts the qualitative content analysis method of research, drawing from both primary and secondary sources of data collection for its analysis. It notes that the contending issues along the Benue–Taraba boundary are somewhat peculiar, as the conflicts are largely a clash of ethnic, cultural, and historical forces.

Some of the major issues identified include, but are not limited to, land ownership and control, the indigene/citizenship question, population control, market administration and revenue control, as well as the control of water and other mineral deposits. The paper established that these conflicts have persisted over time due to deeply rooted socio-cultural tensions, compounded by inadequate government intervention.

The study recommends that the two state governments should intensify their educational commitments in the border areas to combat the sheer ignorance that has fueled the prolonged unrest. In addition, they should invest more in the provision of social amenities to open up the terrain for broader interaction with other Nigerians. This would help boost the economy of the borderlands beyond agriculture, reduce the overemphasis on land disputes, and encourage participation in other sectors of the economy. Finally, the paper advocates for the equal recognition of residents with the full status of citizenship, alongside equal access to indigene certificates, to promote unity and fairness in the region.