A long-running boundary dispute in Ebonyi State escalated into deadly violence over the weekend, prompting the state government to take sweeping security and administrative measures to restore order in the affected communities.
The crisis, which centres on a contested boundary between communities in Edda Local Government Area, turned fatal when four persons were killed at Okporojọr Village in Oso Edda. The incident, reportedly marked by extreme brutality, heightened tensions in the area and raised concerns about the potential spread of violence to neighbouring communities.
In response, Governor Francis Nwifuru convened an emergency meeting of the Ebonyi State Security Council at the Government House in Centenary City, Abakaliki. Following deliberations, the council recommended decisive actions aimed at stabilising the situation and preventing further loss of life.
Acting on the council’s advice, Governor Nwifuru announced the immediate imposition of a daily curfew in Amasiri community, running from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. He also ordered the closure of all markets, shops, businesses, quarries and banks during the curfew period.
As part of broader measures, the governor directed that all government amenities in Amasiri, including public and private schools, be shut down with immediate effect. Teachers and tutors in the area are to be redeployed to schools in other communities outside Amasiri. According to the governor, there will be no school operations in Amasiri for the duration of the intervention.
The security council further recommended the dissolution of all traditional and community leadership structures in the area. Consequently, the state government approved the dethronement of two traditional rulers in the Amasiri clan, with official letters to be issued to them. In addition, all development union executives, village heads, women leaders, youth leaders, peer groups and other community-based organisations in Amasiri were dissolved immediately.
To ensure direct government control, the council directed that the chairmen of Afikpo, Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha local government areas take over the administration of government activities in Amasiri community with immediate effect.
Governor Nwifuru also disclosed that security agencies have been mandated to swing into action to apprehend those responsible for the killings and recover the severed heads of the victims. Law enforcement agencies were instructed to implement all resolutions of the security council without delay.
In a far-reaching administrative move, the council advised the repeal of the law that established Amasiri Development Center. The state government accepted the recommendation and has prepared an executive bill to be forwarded to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, seeking to repeal the 2015 Local Government and Development Center Law and formally remove Amasiri Development Center from the list of development centers in the state.
Governor Nwifuru said the decisions, though tough, were necessary to restore peace, reassert government authority and prevent further escalation of violence in the area. He stressed that the safety of lives and property remains the priority of his administration as security agencies intensify efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
NIM
