Okporojo Killings: Gov.Nwifuru Imposes Curfew in Amasiri,Sacks Appointees, Traditional Rulers, Dissolves Town Unions,Village Heads

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, on Saturday sacked all political appointees from Amasiri community, dissolved town unions and village leadership structures, and withdrew the certificates of traditional rulers in the area.

The decisive action followed the killing of five indigenes of Okporojo village in Edda Local Government Area by suspected warlords from Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.
The attackers, who reportedly struck without warning, also set ablaze more than ten houses and a church (Winners Chapel), and destroyed farm produce and other valuable properties in Okporojo village during the attack, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Amasiri community and the people of Okporojo have been locked in a protracted land dispute.
Governor Nwifuru announced the sanctions during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo village, where he addressed grieving residents who were mourning their loved ones killed in what he described as an “ungodly” attack.
Visibly saddened by the incident, the governor described the attack as “most unfortunate,” saying he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in Ebonyi State. He assured the affected community that the government would deal decisively with those responsible and that the lives lost would not be in vain.
“I am very pained by this development. As a careful leader, when you are angry, you speak less. But I want to assure you that the government of Ebonyi State will show the perpetrators what it truly means to be a government.
“As a leader, you speak less when you are very angry, and at this very moment, I will speak less.
“For the time being, the development union executives and all the village heads in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved.
“The certificates of the traditional rulers are hereby withdrawn. All government appointees from Amasiri are hereby sacked.
“All government appointees, from the management committee level down to commissioners—anyone from Amasiri—is hereby sacked.
“Again, all village heads in Amasiri autonomous communities are hereby removed. We will do more, and we will show everybody why we are government.
“But I plead with all of you to maintain peace. At the end of the day, those who started this war will regret it,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru noted that he had, on several occasions, convened meetings with the chairmen of the two affected local government councils and their stakeholders in a bid to resolve the dispute, but without success.
“I have held meetings with the two local government chairmen and their stakeholders. On several occasions, they disagreed and later agreed, even to the extent of tracing the boundaries.
“Despite the level of reconciliation we reached, our efforts were not taken seriously by the communities involved.
“We are not only going to maintain peace; we are going to act decisively and take actions that will speak very loudly.
“Government will support you at this critical moment of your lives. Moral support is not what you need immediately. What you need is permanent peace, and that permanent peace will surely come.
“I have seen where you are living. I have seen the houses burnt. It is nothing to write home about,” the governor said.
Nwifuru also commended law enforcement officers deployed to the area to restore law and order, urging them to sustain their efforts.
“I want to thank the law enforcement agencies led by the Commissioner of Police, the cantonment commander, the Women Battalion commander, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security chiefs in the state.
“They have all briefed me on the actions taken to maintain peace. Many of them trekked up to nine kilometres to trace the roots of the perpetrators.
“They have assured me of the security of lives and property in this area. I believe in them, and I want to thank them specially. I also plead with them to do more.
“I send this message to the people of Amasiri: it is a pity. And to the Okporojo community, I urge you to remain calm and embrace peace. Government will be with you to the end,” he assured.
Meanwhile, not fewer than 10 persons have been arrested in connection with the Thursday attack.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, disclosed this after visiting the affected area.
Among those killed and beheaded by the Amasiri assailants were two elderly women, while one Mr. Eze Orji was listed among those missing.
Speaking to InsideOutNews, Mr. Michael Orji alleged that the same Amasiri assailants carried out a similar attack in 2025, during which an entire family, including children, was wiped out.
“Yes, a similar incident happened in 2025 when the same Amasiri assailants wiped out a whole family, including their children.
“The woman you see crying is doing so because her brother, Eze Orji, was among those abducted by the assailants,” he stated.
The governor later briefed journalists at his office at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday after an emergency State Executive Security Council meeting.
Following the meeting, the state government adopted several resolutions, including:
The imposition of a daily curfew from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Immediate closure of schools, banks, markets, and other government facilities in the area.
Relocation of pupils, students, and teachers to neighbouring communities to continue their education.
Delisting of Amasiri Development Centre from the state’s list of development centres.
Closure of all state government facilities in Amasiri.
A directive to law enforcement agencies to recover, at all costs, the severed heads of those beheaded and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Immediate dissolution of all town unions, peer groups, traditional rulers, and village heads in Amasiri.