By Charles Nwoke
Indigenous people of the Amasiri community in Afikpo North Local Government Area have issued a strong warning to the Ebonyi State Government following what they described as a deadly military operation targeting their people.
In a press release issued Wednesday, Amasiri leaders accused the state government of deploying soldiers to support violent attacks allegedly carried out by the Edda community against Amasiri residents. The statement claimed that at least three people were killed during the military operation.
The community demanded the immediate withdrawal of all military personnel from Amasiri. They warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would lead to unspecified consequences.
“The governor must withdraw the soldiers deployed to kill our people within 72 hours or the state government will face the repercussions,” the statement read. “We have lost lives. The soldiers sent here are killing our people in support of the ongoing assault by the Edda.”
Amasiri leaders also made it clear that the community would not give up any part of its land, stressing its readiness to defend its territory.
“This is a warning to the Ebonyi State Government. Amasiri will not surrender an inch of its land to Edda. That cannot and will not happen,” the release added.
The situation has sparked renewed concern about growing communal tension in the state. Human rights observers and regional stakeholders have called for urgent intervention to prevent further violence.
As of the time of this report, the Ebonyi State Government has not released an official response to the allegations or the community’s ultimatum.
