ABAKALIKI – In a move described as “baring the government’s fangs,” the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the immediate dismissal of all political appointees, traditional rulers, and community leaders hailing from the Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area.
The sweeping sanctions come in the wake of a gruesome communal attack on Okporojo village in the Oso Edda community, Edda LGA, which left four persons dead—three of whom were reportedly beheaded—and several properties razed to the ground.
The “Total Purge” of Amasiri Leadership
Governor Nwifuru announced the decision on Saturday during a somber on-the-spot assessment of the ravaged Okporojo village. Visibly shaken by the brutality of the killings, the Governor accused the leadership of Amasiri of failing to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace despite prior reconciliation efforts regarding a long-standing land dispute.
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The sanctions, which take effect immediately, include:
Political Appointees: All officials from Amasiri, ranging from Management Committee members to State Commissioners (including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Amari Omaka), are summarily dismissed.
Traditional Institutions: All Traditional Rulers in the Amasiri clan are dethroned, and their certificates of recognition are officially invalidated.
Community Governance: All Community Development Union (CDU) Presidents and Village Heads across the Amasiri autonomous communities have been removed.
“A Direct Affront to Peace”
Addressing the survivors and security agencies at the scene, Governor Nwifuru described the beheadings as “barbaric” and “unthinkable.”
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”I only say the truth, and we love and adore the Amasiri people, but they must have a change of heart,” the Governor stated. “The government has decided to take these firm steps to ensure that those in positions of authority are held accountable for the conduct of their people.”
The Governor lamented that while boundaries had been previously agreed upon through mediation, the Amasiri community had allegedly failed to honor the terms, leading to the “dastardly act” witnessed on Thursday.
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Security Response and Investigation
The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed that ten suspects have already been apprehended in connection with the violence. Security operatives have been heavily deployed to the buffer zones between Amasiri and Oso Edda to forestall reprisal attacks.
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Governor Nwifuru assured the people of Okporojo that the state would not abandon them, pledging that the perpetrators would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. He further cautioned the affected victims against seeking revenge, promising that the “immediate impact” of the government’s administrative sanctions would serve as a deterrent.
For now, the political and traditional administrative structures of Amasiri remain dissolved, leaving the community in a state of unprecedented leadership vacuum as the state seeks to restore order.
