Francis Nwifuru, the Governor of Ebonyi State, has ordered the immediate closure of all schools in the Amasiri clan’s Afikpo Local Government Area, as well as a 20-hour daily curfew, in response to a fatal attack allegedly carried out by clan members in Okporojo village, Edda Local Government Area.
Four people were killed and beheaded as a result of the attack, which also burned down more than nine dwellings.
The sanctions were part of resolutions agreed upon during an emergency meeting of the Ebonyi State Security Council on Saturday night, which was called in reaction to the mayhem in Okporojo village, Oso Edda community.
Earlier on Saturday, Governor Nwifuru visited the afflicted neighborhood, commiserated with residents, and instructed security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those guilty of the attack.
The governor briefed the press following the Security Council meeting in Abakaliki, announcing a series of security and administrative actions aimed at restoring peace and preventing new attacks.
He revealed that, on the council’s advice, the state government approved the immediate dethronement of two traditional rulers in the Amasiri clan as part of efforts to address the crisis. “The letters of their dethronement will be issued to them tomorrow,” he said.
The governor also stated that the council ordered the dissolution of all community-based leadership structures in the clan, including development union executives, village heads, women leaders, youth leaders, peer groups, and any other formal or informal organizations operating within the clan.
“The government has agreed with the council’s directive and dissolved all executives of the Development Union, village heads, women leaders and groups, youth leaders and groups, peer groups, and any other organizations in the Amasiri clan,” he said.
Nwifuru further stated that the Security Council directed the chairmen of the Afikpo, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha local government areas to take over the administration and government functions of the Amasiri tribe until further notice.
The governor stated that the council also ordered the immediate closure of all local facilities, including public and private schools. The Amasiri Development Centre, an agency of the local administration in the area, will also be closed.
A bill to abolish provisions of the law that established the Development Centre has been written and will be submitted to the State House of Assembly.
“The council advised the government of Ebonyi State to submit an executive bill to repeal the local government and Development Centre law that created Amasiri Development Centre and remove it from the state’s development centers. The government has agreed, and the bill has been prepared to send to the House of Assembly,” he said.
“The council further directed that all government amenities in Amasiri, including public and private schools, should be closed immediately.
“All teachers and tutors are to be posted to other schools and communities outside Amasiri with immediate effect.
“The Commissioner for Local Government and the Commissioner for Education have been directed to implement this order,” the governor added.
“As of tomorrow morning, there will be no schools in Amasiri, and the Development Centre will no longer operate,” he said.
Nwifuru also announced a daily curfew for the Amasiri village from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. During the curfew, all markets, shops, enterprises, banks, quarries, and other commercial activity must remain closed.
The council also urged security services to arrest and prosecute those guilty for the Okporojo killings, as well as recover the victims’ severed heads.
The governor stated that the severe measures were necessary to restore law and order and reassure citizens about the state government’s commitment to security.
“These resolutions take immediate effect,” he stated, warning that the state would not tolerate acts of violence or lawlessness in any part of Ebonyi State.
