Okporojo Killings: Governor Francis Nwifuru Eases Amasiri Curfew, Schools Remain Closed

From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has relaxed the earlier 20-hour curfew (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) imposed on Amasiri three weeks ago, reducing it to 13 hours (6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) daily.
The curfew was initially imposed following the January 30 attack on residents of Okporojo in Edda.

The relaxation, which takes immediate effect, was one of four key resolutions reached on Tuesday during the State Security Council meeting held at the Governor’s Office in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Governor Nwifuru maintained that despite the adjustment of the curfew hours, schools and government facilities in the affected area will remain closed until further notice.
According to him, “After careful deliberation and consideration of ongoing investigations, as well as the progress made by security agencies, the Council adjusted the curfew to run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily.
“The Council further resolved that all persons arrested in connection with the crisis between the affected communities should be charged to court without delay, rather than remain in police custody.
“The Council also emphasized the need to recover the remains of those killed during the violence and adopted additional security measures to restore lasting peace,” he stated.
The governor disclosed that several suspects have been arrested and are assisting the police with ongoing investigations.
“However, under the law, every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, notwithstanding confessional statements obtained from some of those arrested,” he added.
Governor Nwifuru further noted that the swift intervention of the state government prevented the crisis from escalating into a broader communal conflict involving Amasiri. He alleged that indigenes of Akpoha and Okporojo, whose kinsmen were reportedly killed and beheaded during the attack, might have launched retaliatory attacks on Amasiri if decisive action had not been taken.
Meanwhile, the four severed heads allegedly taken during the attack on Okporojo are yet to be recovered and returned, as earlier demanded by the State Security Council.