Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State, has eased the curfew imposed on Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area, restricting movement from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The governor announced the adjustment on Tuesday while briefing journalists after a State Security Council meeting at his office in Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The earlier curfew, imposed in the wake of a deadly attack, had restricted movement from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m.
The security measure followed the January 29 attack on Okporojo community in Edda Local Government Area, where suspected armed men reportedly ambushed residents, set houses ablaze, and allegedly beheaded at least four people, taking their heads away.
A viral video circulating online showed homes engulfed in flames, with residents calling on the state government and security agencies for urgent intervention.
Governor Nwifuru said the failure of the Amasiri community to produce the severed heads of the victims within the 72-hour ultimatum earlier issued by the state government would attract more stringent measures.
He added that schools in Amasiri would remain closed for safety reasons while security agencies continue investigations. According to him, suspects arrested in connection with the killings will be charged to court.
In response to the incident, the governor dismissed all government appointees from Amasiri, dissolved the leadership of the community development union and village heads, and withdrew the certificate of recognition of the traditional ruler.
A visibly angered Nwifuru described the killings as “most unfortunate” and expressed shock at the level of brutality.
“All government appointees from Amasiri, from the management committee down to commissioners, are hereby sacked. All village heads in the autonomous communities are removed, and the traditional ruler’s certificate is withdrawn,” he said.
“For the time being, we will do more. We will show everybody why we are government,” the governor added.
He assured residents that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain.
