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Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the dissolution of all political, administrative, and traditional leadership structures in the Amasiri clan of Afikpo Local Government Area following a deadly attack in neighbouring Edda Local Government Area that left four people dead. The governor also dismissed all government appointees from Amasiri, including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, as part of a sweeping response to the incident.
The directives were announced on Saturday when Nwifuru visited Okporojo community in Oso Edda to assess the aftermath of the violence. Speaking before residents, community leaders, security operatives, and state officials, the governor described the killings as a shocking breakdown of order and a direct challenge to the authority of the state. He said the actions taken were meant to send a clear message that the government would no longer tolerate violent conduct or leadership failure.
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According to reports presented to the governor, the four victims were allegedly attacked by assailants from the Amasiri community, with their heads severed and taken away. Nwifuru said the brutality of the act pointed to deeper structural problems within the local leadership, arguing that those entrusted with authority had failed to prevent the crisis or de-escalate long-standing tensions.
He announced that all development union executives and village leadership structures in Amasiri were immediately dissolved. The governor further ordered the withdrawal of certificates of traditional rulers, the removal of all village heads across Amasiri autonomous communities, and the dismissal of every government appointee from the area, ranging from management committee members to commissioners. He stressed that governance comes with responsibility and that failure to maintain peace attracts consequences.
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Describing the attack as barbaric and unacceptable, Nwifuru assured the people of Okporojo that the state government would pursue justice and ensure that those responsible were held accountable. He said the loss of lives would not be ignored and that security agencies had been directed to intensify investigations and restore calm across the affected communities.
At the same time, the governor appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals. He warned that retaliatory actions would only deepen the crisis and spread insecurity further. According to him, the state’s response would be firm but carefully measured to prevent wider escalation.
Nwifuru noted that the conflict in the area had persisted for several years despite repeated interventions by successive administrations. He recalled multiple reconciliation meetings, boundary demarcations, and agreements reached between the affected communities, lamenting that many of these resolutions were repeatedly violated. His visit, he said, was intended to demonstrate that the state would no longer overlook persistent lawlessness.
Addressing the Amasiri community directly, the governor cautioned that violence could never provide a lasting solution. He warned that continued provocations were pushing the situation toward a dangerous threshold, with consequences that could affect the entire region.
Speaking emotionally, Nwifuru said the incident had deeply saddened him, adding that leadership required restraint even in moments of anger. He explained that his choice of words was deliberate, aimed at calming tensions while making it clear that the government would act decisively.
He also raised concerns about the broader security implications of the crisis, revealing that neighbouring Akpoha community had reportedly blocked its roads out of fear of possible attacks. The development, he said, showed how far the instability had spread and how urgent firm intervention had become.
Commenting on the Afikpo Local Government leadership, the governor expressed disappointment that such violence could occur under its watch, despite the council chairman’s reputation for being peace-loving and respectful of the law.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring peace in Edda Local Government Area, Nwifuru promised sustained security operations and government support, assuring residents that concrete improvements would begin to emerge by next year as efforts to stabilise the area intensify.
