• Army promises to bring perpetrators to justice
Security agencies in Ebonyi State deployed to the troubled communities of Amasiri and Oso Edda in Afikpo and Edda Local governments of the state, have uncovered shallow graves containing mutilated bodies suspected to be the victims of the communal war between the two neighbouring communities.
The communities have been at war for decades over land; many lives lost and property worth billions of naira destroyed.
On January 29 this year, the crisis escalated with lives lost and head of four of those killed beheaded in Okporojo, Oso Edda were taken away by suspected warlords.
Governor Francis Nwifuru who was sad over the killings, deployed security agencies to the troubled communities after taken many drastic measures.
The people of Amasiri who are accused of carrying out the January 29 killings in Okporojo, Oso Edda, accused the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army of extrajudicial killings.
But the army denied the allegation, describing it as false and misleading.
In a statement,Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division, revealed that after deployment of troops and other security agencies to the communities, shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri, were discovered which demanded urgent intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The attention of the Headquarters, 82 Division Nigerian Army (NA), has been drawn to some videos currently circulating on social media, featuring journalists condemning the deployment of troops in Amasiri following the killing of innocent citizens in Amasiri–Edda community, Afikpo North LG of Ebonyi State.
“The intervention of the NA and other security agencies in Amasiri is not an invasion as characterised by these videos. This narrative is misleading and does not reflect the true purpose of the operation.
“Troops were deployed as a direct response to the gruesome killings and beheadings of four individuals in Okporojo village, Edda LGA, and subsequent discoveries of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri. These atrocities demanded urgent intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The Ebonyi State Government, in line with its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, therefore imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools in Amasiri to prevent escalation and ensure public safety.
“The security agencies were deployed to enforce the curfew, ensure uninterrupted investigations and security operations, protect medical teams, and manage the humanitarian implications of the crisis.
“The joint teams comprising the NA, Police, Department of State Security, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have been conducting intelligence-driven patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and forensic exhumations in the affected areas.
” Credible intelligence has further revealed multiple sites where victims were buried, including adults and children.
“The discovery of these graves underscores the scale of the crimes committed and the necessity of a robust security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further violence.
“It is important to stress that the deployment of troops is not targeted at the people of Amasiri but at criminal elements exploiting communal tensions to perpetrate heinous crimes.
“The operation is intelligence-led, professional, and conducted in partnership with local leadership to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The Nigerian Army and sister agencies remain committed to protecting all citizens without bias. The intervention will continue until peace is fully restored, perpetrators are apprehended and justice is served.
“The public is urged to kindly disregard misinformation and support ongoing efforts to secure Afikpo North and neighboring communities”, the statement said.
