In a sweeping and unprecedented disciplinary action, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has sacked the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Amari Omaka, and dethroned the traditional ruler of the Amasiri community following the brutal beheading of four persons in a renewed boundary clash.
The Governor’s directive, issued on Saturday during an on-the-spot assessment of the carnage in Okporojo village, Oso Edda, also included the immediate dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and the removal of all government appointees hailing from the Amasiri clan in Afikpo Local Government Area.
“A Point of No Return” Visibly enraged by the gruesome nature of the killings, where victims were decapitated and their heads carted away by assailants, Governor Nwifuru declared that his administration had been “pushed to the wall” by the persistent belligerence of the Amasiri community.
“I am seeking the right words at this moment so that I do not escalate the crisis, but I plead with all of you to maintain peace,” the Governor told the grieving residents of Oso Edda. “At the end of the day, those who started this violence will regret it. My visit here today will leave a very bold mark.”
He explained that despite multiple peace meetings and boundary demarcations aimed at resolving the decades-old dispute between Amasiri and Oso Edda, the aggressors had chosen violence over dialogue. “I have held several meetings, traced boundaries, and reached agreements. But it has now reached a critical point,” Nwifuru stated.
Sweeping Sanctions To demonstrate the government’s zero tolerance for communal bloodletting, Governor Nwifuru announced a total overhaul of the leadership structure in the aggressor community:
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Sack of Political Appointees: All political appointees from Amasiri, ranging from Management Committee members to the State Commissioner, have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
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Traditional Stool Vacated: The certificate of the traditional ruler of the Amasiri autonomous community has been withdrawn.
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Union Dissolved: The executive members of the Amasiri Town Development Union and all village leadership structures within the clan have been dissolved.
“Lives Will Not Be in Vain” Addressing the bereaved families in Oso Edda, Governor Nwifuru assured them that the state government would ensure justice is served and that the perpetrators would face the full weight of the law. He urged the community not to resort to reprisals, warning that vengeance would only complicate the security agencies’ efforts to track down the killers.
“I promise you, the lives lost will never be in vain… As long as I remain your governor, this kind of rascality will never happen again,” he vowed.
The Governor also cautioned the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area to rein in his subjects, noting that while the Chairman is known for peace, the actions of his people have become indefensible. The security agencies have since been directed to maintain a heavy presence in the buffer zone between the two communities to forestall further attacks.
