The Ebonyi State Government has issued a stern 72-hour ultimatum to the people of Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area to produce the missing heads of four victims allegedly killed during recent violent attacks on neighbouring communities, or face stiffer sanctions from the state.
The directive also mandates the Amasiri community to, within the same three-day window, produce four persons reportedly abducted from Okporojo in Oso Edda Local Government Area and Akpoha in Afikpo Local Government Area, who are still unaccounted for following the attacks.
The ultimatum was part of far-reaching resolutions reached at an expanded State Security Council meeting held on Monday at the conference hall of the Governor’s Office, Government House, Abakaliki. The meeting, which lasted for over 10 hours, brought together heads of security agencies, members of the State Elders Council, founding fathers of Ebonyi State, and key stakeholders from Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Adaku Uche-Anya, said the decisions were aimed at addressing the tragic consequences of the violent clashes involving Amasiri community, Okporojo in Oso Edda LGA, and Akpoha in Afikpo LGA.
According to the police commissioner, the Security Council carefully reviewed the situation and resolved that the curfew and other sanctions earlier imposed on Amasiri community should remain firmly in place until the community fully complies with the directives issued by the government.
“The council has resolved that the Amasiri people must, within 72 hours, produce the missing heads of the four victims of the attacks, as well as the four persons reportedly abducted from the affected neighbouring communities,” Uche-Anya said. “Failure to comply will attract more severe measures from the government.”
She explained that the actions were necessary to restore peace, ensure justice for the victims, and prevent a recurrence of violence in the area, noting that the state government would not tolerate lawlessness or acts that threaten communal coexistence.
Responding to questions from journalists, Governor Francis Nwifuru confirmed reports of the discovery of shallow graves in Amasiri community containing mutilated bodies of victims, including women and children, some of whom were reportedly buried without their heads.
The governor disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the scale of the killings may be larger than initially reported, with strong indications that more victims were killed and buried in the shallow graves uncovered by security operatives.
“There is credible information before the Security Council that many more persons than earlier reported may have been killed,” Governor Nwifuru said. “We have discovered shallow graves containing mutilated bodies, including children, and some of these bodies were found without heads.”
He further revealed that three of the missing heads were traced to victims from Okporojo community in Oso Edda LGA, while the fourth belonged to a victim from Akpoha community in Afikpo LGA.
Governor Nwifuru reaffirmed the resolve of his administration to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible for the violence. He warned that the state government would not hesitate to impose additional punitive measures on Amasiri community should it fail to comply with the council’s directives within the stipulated timeframe.
“Human life is sacred, and no community has the right to take the law into its own hands,” the governor said. “If the Amasiri people fail to meet these demands within 72 hours, the government will take further decisive actions.”
The governor commended the security agencies for their swift intervention, noting that their prompt response helped prevent the crisis from escalating into a wider conflict that could have engulfed more communities.
In separate remarks, spokespersons for the Ebonyi State founding fathers and the State Elders Council, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor and Engineer Ben Okah respectively, expressed full support for the decisions of the government and the State Security Council.
They praised Governor Nwifuru for what they described as a proactive and courageous approach to handling the crisis, stressing that decisive leadership was crucial to preventing further bloodshed and restoring peace.
Chief Ikpor said, “The steps taken by the governor and the security agencies have saved the state from a greater calamity. Human life must always be respected as sacred, regardless of grievances or disputes.”
Engineer Okah echoed similar sentiments, urging all communities involved to embrace peace and dialogue rather than violence, and to cooperate fully with government efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the Amasiri people, Bishop Kenneth Oko assured the government that the community would take the council’s directives seriously and work towards compliance.
“We will take the order of the Security Council back to our people for necessary action,” Bishop Oko said. “The stakeholders of Amasiri community will continue to cooperate with the government and security agencies to ensure that this unfortunate dispute is brought to an end and lasting peace is restored.”
He called for restraint and understanding from all sides, stressing that continued cooperation with the authorities was the only path toward reconciliation and stability in the affected areas.
Similarly, George Ndukwe Ukpai, who spoke on behalf of the Edda people, commended the Ebonyi State Government for what he described as a balanced and firm response to the crisis.
Ukpai assured the government and the people of Amasiri that the Edda community would maintain a peaceful disposition and would not engage in reprisals, despite the pain and losses suffered.
“We appreciate the positive approach of the government in handling this matter,” he said. “We want to reassure the authorities and our neighbours in Amasiri that there will be no reprisals from Edda. Our people are committed to peace.”
The crisis has heightened tensions across Afikpo and Edda LGAs, with residents expressing shock and grief over the brutality of the violence and the discovery of mutilated bodies. Many have called on the government to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that concrete measures are put in place to prevent future conflicts.
As the 72-hour ultimatum ticks away, all eyes remain on Amasiri community to see whether it will comply with the directives of the Ebonyi State Government and the State Security Council. For many residents of the affected communities, the hope is that compliance will pave the way for healing, justice, and a return to lasting peace.
