Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has sacked all political appointees and traditional rulers from the Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area and dissolved its leadership structures following the brutal killings of residents in a neighbouring community, officials said during an assessment visit.
The drastic action by Governor Nwifuru followed a violent attack on Okporojo village in the Oso Edda community of Edda Local Government Area, where assailants reportedly beheaded four people and inflicted other serious harm in a long‑running communal dispute.
Previous peace efforts, including boundary reconciliation agreements between the communities, had failed to end the conflict.
Ebonyi State has experienced periodic communal clashes, prompting government and security agency interventions to restore peace and protect lives. The Okporojo incident was one of the most severe recent escalations, intensifying calls for decisive action from state authorities.
Governor Nwifuru announced the sanctions during an on‑the‑spot assessment visit to Okporojo village on Saturday, where he addressed residents, community leaders, security officials and government representatives.
The governor described the killings as “most unfortunate” and unprecedented in the state, saying the government would not tolerate the level of brutality witnessed.
He lamented that years of mediation and reconciliation efforts had not yielded lasting peace, and noted that boundary agreements had been repeatedly violated.
As part of immediate measures, Nwifuru ordered:
Dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executive members.
Withdrawal of the traditional ruler’s certificate and removal of all village heads across Amasiri’s autonomous communities.
Dismissal of all government appointees from Amasiri, from management committee members to the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Amari Omaka, who hails from the area.
The governor directed affected individuals to hand over government property in their possession, including official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government.
Nwifuru urged residents to remain calm and refrain from retaliation, warning that further violence would only worsen the situation. He assured the affected communities that those responsible for the attack would be held accountable under the law.
The governor’s sweeping sanctions against political and traditional leadership in the Amasiri community reflect a firm stance against communal violence and disregard for the rule of law.
Dissolution of leadership structures and removal of appointees is intended to signal that government will step in where local mechanisms have failed to prevent bloodshed.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been commended for their efforts to pursue the attackers and protect lives and property.
Authorities hope the combination of sanctions and enhanced security presence will deter further violence and create conditions for lasting peace.
The actions may also influence how other states handle communal conflicts, highlighting the complex interaction between traditional authorities, political appointees, and government responsibility for security.
Governor Francis Nwifuru has dissolved the political and traditional leadership structures of the Amasiri community, sacked all political appointees from the area, and withdrawn recognition of traditional rulers in response to the violent killings in Okporojo village.
The measure aims to restore peace, uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for those responsible for the attack.
