The Ife and Modakeke conflict has, between the mid-19th and the early 21st centuries, witnessed a series of reoccurrences, peacemaking efforts and textual documentations. Nevertheless, more than two decades after the last outbreak of a violent conflict, the nature of the Ife and Modakeke relation has continued to oscillate between concord, contests, and in certain instances, the outbreaks of violent skirmishes associated with divergent identities with consequences on land ownership and territorial autonomy which appear to be emerging ferment for a renewal of the crisis. Therefore, this study was conducted to interrogate the place of migration, identity, and land conflict in the Ife and Modakeke relations. This study adopted a descriptive historical research method, and data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The findings of the study revealed how the crystallisation of identities among these groups has intensified disputes over land ownership both in the Ife metropolis and farmlands, which, after the outbreak of the last conflict in 2001, has become a source of contention. Furthermore, in addition to the dispute escalating into significant tension and violence at several points over the years, it has continued to push the Ife and the Modakeke populations to the brink of another round of violent conflict. This article concludes that addressing the question of identity and land ownership requires concerted efforts from both the government and stakeholders to foster integration, promote shared values, and ensure justice for the concerned parties. Recommendations include leveraging shared cultural practices to smooth cleavages and promote communal harmony.