Okporojo Killings: Nwifuru Gives Amasiri 72 Hours to Return Severed Heads, Free Abductees

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the people of Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area to produce the four severed heads of victims allegedly beheaded during a recent attack on Okporojo community in Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The governor also directed the Amasiri community to release four abducted persons alive and hand over the perpetrators of the killings to security agencies or face the full weight of the law.
The directive followed resolutions reached at an enlarged State Security Council meeting held on Monday at the New Government House, Abakaliki.

The meeting, which lasted over eight hours, was attended by commanders of security agencies, members of the Ebonyi State Council of Elders, founding fathers, traditional rulers, and stakeholders from the affected communities, including Akpoha.

According to Governor Nwifuru, the conduct of Amasiri stakeholders at the meeting showed a lack of genuine commitment to peace.

“The heads we are demanding are those of three victims from Okporojo who were beheaded, including an indigene of Akpoha who was murdered and decapitated by Amasiri assailants,”
“In total, four heads must be returned within 72 hours. In addition, the four abducted persons must be released alive. We believe they are still alive, which is why we insist on their safe return. The community must also identify and surrender the perpetrators of this heinous crime within the same time frame.”the governor stated.
The 72-hour ultimatum is expected to expire on Thursday evening.
This development came barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army, 82 Division, Enugu, disclosed the discovery of shallow graves containing human skulls and mutilated bodies, including those of children, in Amasiri community.
In a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists, the Division’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan, said troops were deployed to the area following the gruesome killing and beheading of four individuals in Okporojo village, Edda LGA.
“Troops were deployed as a direct response to the gruesome killings and beheadings of four persons in Okporojo village.
Subsequent operations led to the discovery of shallow graves in Amasiri containing mutilated bodies, including those of children,”
“These atrocities necessitated urgent military intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”the statement read.
This is the second security council meeting convened by Governor Nwifuru within 12 days to address the January 29 attack on Okporojo community, allegedly carried out by armed elements from Amasiri.
The attack reportedly left at least three persons dead, including two women aged over 85 years and a middle-aged man, all of whom were beheaded.
Governor Nwifuru warned that failure to comply with the three-day ultimatum would attract severe sanctions, stressing that his administration remains committed to enforcing the rule of law and restoring peace in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily curfew imposed on Amasiri community remains in force.
Investigations by Insideoutnews revealed that Amasiri has long-standing conflicts with several neighbouring communities, including Ibii, Afikpo, Akpoha, and Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

Frequent reports of missing persons in the area reportedly compelled the Afikpo Elders’ Ruling Council to recently ban their indigenes from operating motorcycles or plying routes through Amasiri-dominated areas.