Francis Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi State, has ordered the immediate shutdown of all schools and government facilities in Amasiri community, Afikpo Local Government Area, and imposed a 20-hour daily curfew following the killing of four persons in neighbouring Okporojo Village.
The sweeping measures were part of resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the Ebonyi State Security Council held late Saturday night in Abakaliki.
The meeting was convened in response to a violent attack on Okporojo Village in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by suspected armed groups from the neighbouring Amasiri community.
Okporojo and Amasiri communities have been locked in a decade-long boundary dispute that has claimed several lives despite repeated interventions by successive administrations.
In the latest incident, at least four residents of Okporojo were killed, heightening fears of renewed large-scale violence in the area.
Earlier on Saturday, Governor Nwifuru visited the affected community, where he sympathised with the victims’ families and directed security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Addressing journalists after the security council meeting, the governor announced far-reaching security and administrative actions aimed at restoring peace and preventing further bloodshed.
According to him, the council recommended and the state government approved the immediate dethronement of the two traditional rulers in Amasiri clan.
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The governor also announced the dissolution of all community-based leadership structures in Amasiri, including development union executives, village heads, women and youth leaders, peer groups, and all formal or informal organisations operating within the clan.
Governor Nwifuru further disclosed that chairmen of Afikpo, Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha Local Government Areas have been directed to jointly oversee governance and administrative activities in Amasiri until further notice.
As part of the sanctions, all government amenities in Amasiri, including public and private schools, are to be shut down with immediate effect, while teachers are to be redeployed to other communities.
The governor also ordered the immediate shutdown of the Amasiri Development Centre, adding that an executive bill has been prepared and will be transmitted to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to repeal sections of the law that established the development centre.
“From tomorrow morning, there will be no school and no development centre in Amasiri,” he declared.
Nwifuru announced the imposition of a daily curfew on Amasiri community from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m., during which all markets, shops, banks, quarries and other commercial activities must remain closed.
He said that security agencies have been directed to intensify operations to apprehend all those involved in the killings and ensure they face the full weight of the law.
The governor described the measures as “drastic but necessary,” stressing that his administration would not tolerate violence or lawlessness in any part of Ebonyi State.
“These resolutions take immediate effect,” he warned.
