Governor Francis Nwifuru has ordered the destruction of all shrines and deities in Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following its alleged involvement in a violent land dispute that left several people dead.
The directive was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, after an enlarged state security meeting held on Thursday.
The government in the statement, accused members of the Amasiri community of complicity in the recent deadly conflict with neighbouring Okporojo community in Oso, located in Edda Local Government Area.
The dispute reportedly resulted in multiple deaths and widespread destruction of property.
Authorities said the violence escalated into a gruesome incident in which attackers allegedly beheaded four victims and fled with their severed heads.
The governor had earlier imposed a series of punitive measures on Amasiri community, including the removal of its political appointees, the dethronement of its traditional rulers, the imposition of a curfew, and the closure of schools in the area.
Nwifuru insisted that the sanctions would remain in place until the severed heads of the victims are recovered and those responsible for the killings are arrested.
As part of the latest directive, community stakeholders were ordered to identify and reveal the locations of all shrines and deities within Amasiri for immediate demolition.
The statement also disclosed that the state government has constituted a 19-member committee to demarcate the disputed boundary between Amasiri and Okporojo communities.
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The committee will be headed by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Border and Conflict Resolution, Paul Nwobashi, and includes the state Surveyor-General as well as the Commissioner for Lands and Survey.
The government noted that the boundary demarcation exercise became necessary after both communities agreed to the arrangement as part of efforts to resolve the longstanding dispute.
The curfew imposed on Amasiri community will remain in force until security agencies recover the severed heads of the victims and those responsible for the killings are apprehended.
