Ebonyi Violence: Gov Nwifuru imposes heavy sanctions on Amasiri communities, sacks political appointees, others

Ebonyi state government has immediately closed down all institutions depicting government presence in Amasiri communities of Afikpo local government area of the state.

 

The action was a reaction against last Thursday’s violent attack by suspected Amasiri warlords on Okporojo village in Oso-Edda in Edda local government area, leading to the killing and beheading of about four persons including elderly women, with many houses and property worth several millions of naira destroyed.

 

Briefing newsmen Saturday night in his Office, Governor Francis Nwifuru announced total closure of all public and private schools in the area and the transfer of all teachers in the public schools to other communities within the state.

 

The governor further stripped the communities of its one development centre, Amasiri Development Centre, and placed a daily curfew from 2 Pm to 10 am of the following day, restricting movement of persons in the area till further notice.

 

While he allowed the quarry firms in the area to operate half days, he emphasized that all Amasiri people wishing to continue schooling should access schools in neighbouring communities as all schools would remain closed till government says otherwise.

 

The Governor warned that any attempt by any person or group in the community to flout the orders would be considered as mutiny and strongly dealt with in accordance with the laws.

 

The two neighbouring communities: Amasiri in Afikpo LGA and Oso-Edda in Edda LGA of the state have been in battle over an expanse of land for decades with its resultant intermittent mutual violence which has continued to defy successive administrations in the state.

 

The Thursday’s attack by Amasiri Warlords was in defiance of Governor Nwifuru’s recent efforts in settling the disputes, including an order against further violence in the area.

 

Meanwhile, the Governor, during an on-the-spot assessment tour of the village earlier in the day, had ordered the imediate relieving of all government appointees from Amasiri of their appointments.

 

He also dissolved all traditional institutions, community leadership and structures in the area.

 

Some of the appointees affected include the commissioner for Tertiary Education and senior advocate of Nigeria, Professor Amari Omaka; the Coordinator of Amasiri Development Centre, Mr. Baron Anya; and a member of the local government service commission , Barr. Obiageri Oko-Enyim, among others.

 

Certificates of Recognition of both traditional rulers of Amasiri and Ndukwe- Amasiri Autonomous communities, Ezeogo Bassey Onya Idam and Ezeogo Godfrey Obia Oko respectively, were also announced withdrawn by the governor.

 

Governor Nwifuru who expressed profound anger and grief over the killings described the attack as unimaginably brutal and barbaric in present day civilised Ebonyi society.

 

He assured the people of Oso Edda that the state government would deal decisively with those responsible for the senseless killings, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain.

 

Nwifuru said: “On this note, for the time being, the Development Union executives and all village leadership structures in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved.

 

“The Certificates of Recognition of the traditional rulers in the community are also withdrawn.

 

“All government appointees from Amasiri Community, from management committee members to commissioners, are hereby sacked.

 

“All village heads in all Amasiri villages across the autonomous communities are hereby removed”.

 

“I am deeply pained by this development, but as a careful leader, when you are angry, you speak less.

 

While emphasising that government actions would be firm but guided by the need to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed, he assured the people of Oso-Edda that the government of Ebonyi State will show the perpetrators what it truly means to be a government.

 

He further urged the residents to remain calm and shun reprisals, warning that retaliatory violence would only escalate the crisis.

 

Governor Nwifuru who expressed disgust with the action of the Amasiri people, described his visit as a strong signal that the state would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.

 

Noting that the conflict had lingered for years, defying several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between the affected communities, the Governor lamented that such accords have continued to violated by the people, warning that his administration will never tolerate such defiance.

 

While commending security agencies for their swift response, he pledged the full support of the state government to them for lasting peace in the area.

 

Warning the people of Amasiri Community to desist from further acts of violence, he stressed that violence would never provide a meaningful resolution to disputes but push the situation to “a point of no return”

 

Governor Nwifuru reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring permanent peace in Edda local government area and promised that by next year, the community would witness tangible improv

Lements arising from decisive government interventions.