Ebonyi govt vows action, demolishes shrines over killings

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The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the destruction of all shrines and deities in the Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area, over its complicity in a recent violent conflict.

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Nwifuru gave the order for the demolition of the shrines and deities in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor on Friday after an enlarged state security meeting on Thursday.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amasiri was recently involved in a renewed land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo, in the Oso community of Edda Local Government Area.

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The dispute led to several deaths and the destruction of several properties.

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The killings assumed a gruesome dimension with the attackers beheading four of the victims and escaping with the severed heads.

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Nwifuru had imposed sanctions on Amasiri, including the sacking of its political appointees, the dethronement of its traditional rulers, the imposition of a curfew, and the closure of schools, among others.

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The governor had insisted at several fora that punitive measures should be sustained on the community until the severed heads are returned and perpetrators of the dastardly act are arrested.

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Nwifuru directed that stakeholders of Amasiri show the government and security agencies the locations of the shrines and deities.

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“The state government has constituted a 19–member committee to demarcate the disputed boundary between Okporojo and Amasiri communities.

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“The demarcation has become expedient since the two parties had signed an agreement to that effect.

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“The committee is headed by the State Commissioner for Border and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Nwobashi and includes the surveyor general of the state; commissioner for lands and survey, among others,” he said.

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He said that the curfew imposed on the Amasiri community remains in force until the severed heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings are recovered,” he said.

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(NAN)

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