The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has relaxed the curfew imposed in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, restricting movement from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Governor Nwifuru announced this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the State Security Council meeting at his office, New Government, Centenary City in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The curfew earlier imposed in Amasiri restricted movement from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. following the attack on Okporojo, Oso-Edda in the Edda Local Government Area, that claimed the lives of four with their heads severed.
The governor stated that the Amasiri community’s failure to produce the heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum issued earlier would attract stringent measures for them to produce the severed heads.
He maintained that schools in Amasiri remain closed for safety, as security agencies continued to carry out investigations.
Nwifuru added that all the suspects involved and arrested would be charged in court.
The Okporojo incident was said to have happened on the afternoon of January 29, 2026, when unidentified armed men reportedly ambushed the community, setting houses on fire.
At least four people were said to have been allegedly beheaded and their heads taken away by the assailants.
In a viral video that circulated online, houses were seen set on fire, as the community called on the state government and security agencies for help.
Following the incident, Nwifuru dismissed all government appointees, dissolved community development union leadership, and village heads in the Amasiri community, Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, with immediate effect.
He also dethroned the traditional ruler of the community.
Nwifuru, who was visibly angry over the killings, described the attack as most unfortunate and said he never expected such a level of brutality to occur in the state.
“So on this note, for the time being, the development union executive and all of the villages in Amasiri communities are hereby dissolved. The traditional ruler certificate is thereby withdrawn all the government appointees from Amasiri are thereby sacked,” the governor said.
“All the government appointees from the management committee down to the commissioner, anyone from Amasiri, are hereby sacked. All the village heads in all Amasiri villages in all the autonomous communities are hereby removed.
“For the time being, we will do more. And we will show everybody why we’re government”, the governor added.
He also assured the affected community that the state government would decisively deal with those responsible, stressing that the lives lost would not be in vain. (Channels)
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