By Paul Joseph
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has taken decisive measures following a deadly attack in the Edda Local Government Area that resulted in the brutal killings of four individuals.
He has ordered the removal of all traditional leaders in the Amasiri clan of the Afikpo Local Government Area and has directed that their official staff be withdrawn.
Additionally, he dismissed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Amari Omaka, who is from the affected region, and disbanded the entire political and traditional leadership of the community.
These actions were prompted by a violent incident in Okporojo, located in the Oso Edda community, where four people were reportedly beheaded, with their heads taken by suspected members of the Amasiri clan.
Governor Nwifuru announced these measures during a visit to Okporojo, where he met with local residents, community leaders, security personnel, and government officials. He described the attack as tragic and unacceptable, stating that such violence would not be tolerated in Ebonyi State. He assured the community that the government would take strong action against those responsible and emphasized that the victims would not be forgotten.
He urged the community to remain calm and refrain from retaliatory actions, warning that revenge would only exacerbate the situation. He emphasized that government actions would be firm but aimed at restoring peace and preventing further violence.
Nwifuru noted that the conflict had persisted for several years despite numerous reconciliation efforts and boundary agreements, which were frequently ignored. His visit was intended to signal that the state government would no longer accept lawlessness or violations of peace agreements.
The governor cautioned the Amasiri community that ongoing violence could lead to uncontrollable situations and urged them to reconsider their actions.
As part of the sanctions, Nwifuru disbanded the Amasiri Town Development Union and its leadership, revoked the traditional ruler’s certificate, removed all village heads, and terminated all political appointments from the community, including commissioners and management committee members.
Reaffirming his commitment to peace, the governor promised that government intervention would lead to noticeable development in the affected areas by next year. He assured residents that his administration would restore order and prevent such violence from occurring again in the state
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