The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, on Saturday dismissed all government appointees, dissolved the leadership of the Amasiri Town Development Union, removed village heads, and dethroned the traditional ruler of the community in Afikpo Local Government Area, with immediate effect.
The drastic measures followed a violent attack on Okporojo Community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area, during which four people were beheaded and their heads taken away.
Governor Nwifuru announced the sanctions during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo, addressing residents, community leaders, security officials, and government representatives.
Visibly angered by the killings, Nwifuru described the attack as “most unfortunate” and unprecedented in the state.
“So, for the time being, the development union executive and all village heads in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved. The traditional ruler certificate is withdrawn, and all government appointees from Amasiri are sacked,” he said.
The governor added: “All government appointees from the management committee down to the commissioner, anyone from Amasiri, are hereby removed. For the time being, we will do more and show everybody why we are government.”
Nwifuru assured the affected community that those responsible for the killings would be decisively dealt with, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain. He urged residents to remain calm and warned that retaliatory violence would only worsen the situation.
The governor lamented that the conflict between the communities had persisted for years despite multiple reconciliation efforts, including boundary agreements that were not respected. He emphasized that his visit signaled that the state would no longer tolerate lawlessness or disregard for the rule of law.
Gov Nwifuru warns against retaliation
Addressing Amasiri residents specifically, Nwifuru cautioned that violence would not bring a meaningful resolution and warned that provocations were pushing the crisis to a “point of no return.”
“My message to the people of Amasiri is to rethink their actions. Violence will get them nowhere. I still believe in God, and I still believe in the character of the people,” he said.
The governor reiterated the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in Edda. He promised that tangible improvements would be visible in the community by next year.
“I am particularly saddened. I have never expected such developments. But the government of Ebonyi State will show the perpetrators what it means to govern, and the lives lost will never be in vain,” Nwifuru said.
He warned that the state’s patience had limits, stressing that the truth must be told and lawlessness would not be tolerated: “If you see a quiet person, do not push him to the wall. I’ve been pushed to the wall at this moment, but I speak the truth as I see it. It is only the truth that can bring peace.”
Among those sacked is the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Amari Omaka (SAN). The governor directed all affected appointees to immediately hand over government properties, including official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government.
