Governor Nwifuru Demands Severed Heads from Community in Response to Killings

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has declared that schools in the Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area shall remain closed, despite the easing of curfew restrictions in the district.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Amasiri area recently experienced an escalated land conflict with the neighboring Okporojo in the Oso community of Edda Local Government Area which resulted in fatalities and considerable property damage.

The situation became particularly harrowing when assailants beheaded four individuals during the conflict, taking their severed heads with them.

On January 31, during a visit to the affected area, Governor Nwifuru announced a range of punitive measures targeted at Amasiri, including the dismissal of local political appointees, the removal of traditional leaders, the imposition of a curfew, and the closure of educational institutions.

Following a security council meeting on a recent Tuesday, the governor reiterated the decision to keep schools closed in the community, despite adjusting the curfew from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. to now operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He emphasized, "Although the curfew has been modified, schools will stay closed as the security council did not consider this issue during its discussions." Nwifuru pointed out that reopening schools could lead to potential safety hazards given the current security landscape.

In his remarks, he clarified that the government's interventions in Amasiri are not intended to demonstrate power, but rather to ensure public safety and order. "No one harbors resentment towards the community, but without these security measures, the risk of wider communal violence with greater loss of life would have been a real danger."

He added that the Amasiri community had beheaded an Akpoha man and severed his head, further complicating the situation.

The governor maintained that the Amasiri community must account for the severed heads of the Okporo victims, emphasizing the seriousness of the government’s stance on the issue. "They have not managed to yield the heads by the deadline given, prompting the government to impose stricter sanctions. We will keep the specifics of these sanctions private and will not be swayed by the community's social media distractions," he stated.