Sunday, February 1, 2026 - The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has dismissed all government appointees, dissolved the community development union leadership, and removed all village heads in Amasiri community, Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, with immediate effect. He also dethroned the traditional ruler of the community.
Nwifuru’s action followed a violent attack on Okporojo
Community, Oso Edda, in Edda Local Government Area, during which four people
were reportedly beheaded and their heads taken away.
The governor announced the sweeping sanctions on Saturday,
January 31, during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo, where he
addressed residents, community leaders, security agencies, and government
officials.
The Okporojo incident was said to have occurred on the
afternoon of January 29, 2026, when unidentified armed men allegedly ambushed
the community and set houses on fire.
Visibly angry over the killings, Nwifuru described the
attack as most unfortunate, saying he never expected such a level of brutality
to occur in the state.
“So on this note, for the time being, the development union
executive and all of the villages in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved.
The traditional ruler certificate is thereby withdrawn. All the government
appointees from Amasiri are thereby sacked,” the governor said.
“All the government appointees from the management committee
down to the commissioner, anyone from Amasiri, are hereby sacked. All the
village heads in all Amasiri villages in all the autonomous communities are
hereby removed. For the time being, we will do more. And we will show everybody
why we’re government,” he added.
He assured the affected community that the state government
would decisively deal with those responsible, stressing that the lives lost
would not be in vain. He urged residents to remain calm and embrace peace,
warning that retaliatory violence would only worsen the situation.
According to him, government actions would be firm but
guided by the need to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Nwifuru revealed that the conflict had lingered for years
despite several reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements between
the affected communities, lamenting that such agreements were not respected. He
noted that his visit was a strong signal that the state would no longer
tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.
Turning to the role of Amasiri community in the crisis, the
governor issued a stern warning, stating that violence would never lead to a
meaningful resolution.
“My message to the people of Amasiri is to have a rethink
because violence will never lead them anywhere. I also heard that the Akpoha
community blocked their road because the Amasiri people are coming to attack
them. And I say, look, it has already gotten to the point of no return,”
Nwifuru said.
“So Amasiri should be careful of their actions. We love
them. We adore them. We believe that they have men who still have character. I
still believe in God and still worship God.”
Consequently, the governor announced the immediate
dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members. He
reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring permanent peace in Edda
and promised that by next year, the community would witness tangible
improvements resulting from government intervention.
“I am particularly very saddened. I repent of this kind of
development. I’ve never in my whole life expected this kind of development.
“It’s quite unfortunate. But if you’re a careful leader, you
speak less when you are very angry. And at this very moment I will speak less.
But I want to assure the people of Okporojo autonomous community.
“The government of Ebonyi State will definitely show to the
perpetrators what made them government and you will see it happen. I promise
you, the lives lost will never be in vain by the special grace of God,” he
said.
“I am seeking words to use at this moment so that I will not
escalate the war. But I plead with all of you to maintain peace. At the end of
the day, those that started the war will regret it.”
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