By Joy Onu
The Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister of Defence, and the National Boundaries Commission to intervene urgently in what it described as a worsening security and humanitarian crisis.
In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, Princess Joy Omagha Idam, spokesperson for the community, demanded an impartial, transparent, and independent investigation into alleged killings, abductions, and the conduct of security forces operating in the area. The community said the recent 72-hour ultimatum issued by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, which instructed residents to produce severed heads of alleged victims and return persons reportedly abducted, was unjust, unconstitutional, and a violation of fundamental human rights.
Princess Idam said the community had no knowledge of, nor involvement in, the alleged killings or abductions. “Amasiri has neither participated in, facilitated, nor condoned any of the acts currently attributed to it,” she stated. “Any attempt to hold the entire community responsible constitutes a grave violation of the Constitution, which expressly prohibits collective punishment and guarantees the presumption of innocence.”
The statement also highlighted the losses suffered by Amasiri itself. Several residents, including a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, Chukwu Charles, his wife Patricia Chukwu Charles, and a female relative, were reportedly abducted, with their whereabouts still unknown. Other members of the community have reportedly been killed, displaced, or subjected to inhumane treatment during ongoing security operations.
The statement listed specific incidents over the past two years: six community members allegedly abducted and killed by Edda residents on 20 January 2025 — Sunday Oko Akwa, Oko Akpu Egele, Christian Enya, Agha Oko, Itoro Essien, and Monday Abang; two others, Obinna Oko Eze and Emmanuel Okpara, abducted and killed in Ozaraokangwu on 2 April 2025; an electrician, Monday Ogbonnia, killed in his rice farm on 26 August 2025; and Ndubuisi Agha Ukpai, shot during a military operation on 3 February 2026 and later dying on 7 February 2026 due to lack of medical access.
Princess Idam also accused security forces of committing widespread human rights abuses. She alleged that elderly residents were assaulted, women were flogged, humiliated, and forced to roll on the ground under the sun, all in attempts to coerce them into identifying sons who fled for safety. She described these acts as “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment prohibited under Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments.”
The community warned of severe humanitarian consequences. Children have reportedly been unable to attend schools or sit for critical national examinations, including the Common Entrance Examination and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC), potentially compromising the education of an entire generation.
The statement also questioned whether Amasiri residents were receiving equal protection under the law, and whether undisclosed interests concerning the community’s land were influencing government actions, noting that Amasiri is recognised as one of the highest revenue-generating areas in Ebonyi State. The community urged security agencies to investigate the origins of the trucks whose drivers were burnt, suggesting retaliation from other communities may have triggered attacks, rather than any involvement by Amasiri residents.
While reaffirming its commitment to peace, the rule of law, and lawful resolution of disputes, the Amasiri community firmly rejected intimidation, threats, and collective punishment of innocent civilians. It appealed to both the Nigerian government and the international community to act swiftly to halt the alleged abuses, protect vulnerable populations, and restore peace founded on justice and respect for human rights.
