Ebonyi Lifts Amasiri Curfew Three Months After Killings

The Ebonyi State Government has lifted the curfew imposed on Amasiri Autonomous Community in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.

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Naija News reports that the decision came three months after the killing of four indigenes of Okporojo Village in Idima Community, Edda Local Government Area.

The Director of the Department of State Services in Ebonyi State, Mrs E.Y. Kolawole, announced the lifting of the curfew on Monday, May 4, after a security council meeting held at the Governor’s Office in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Kolawole, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said the restriction had been completely lifted.

She, however, noted that security personnel would remain in the affected area to maintain peace and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

According to her, the presence of security operatives is necessary to sustain the relative calm already restored in the troubled community.

She added that some suspects connected to the attack were still at large and would soon be declared wanted by security agencies.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ben Odoh, said the government’s decision followed several letters of remorse written by the people of Amasiri Community.

Odoh explained that the letters were accepted by the people of Okporojo Village as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts.

According to him, the letters were transmitted through the traditional leadership of Amasiri, with assurances that the community was committed to peace, healing and reconciliation.

He said the government took the peace moves into consideration before lifting the curfew.

Odoh also disclosed that appeals from the founding fathers and the council of elders influenced the government’s decision to reject a proposed bill seeking to delist Amasiri Development Centre from the 64 development centres in Ebonyi State.

He said the government believed that reconciliation and restoration of peace should be prioritised over actions that could deepen tension in the area.

The commissioner added that the state government would continue to monitor developments in the community to ensure that all parties kept to the peace process.

Speaking on the restoration of normal activities in Amasiri, the State Head of Service, Mrs Rita Mary Okoro, said her office would supervise the lifting of restrictions on schools and healthcare facilities in the area.

She said a circular would be issued to the Ministries of Education and Health, as well as the Local Government Service Commission, directing affected workers to return to their duty posts.

Okoro explained that staff earlier redeployed from Amasiri Development Centre would be returned in line with the government’s decision to restore full administrative and social services in the area.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Okafor, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Tarzan Tsav, gave updates on separate murder investigations involving traditional rulers in the state.

Tsav said investigations into the killing of the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Eze Francis Igwe, had been concluded.

He added that suspects linked to the killing would soon be charged in court.

The police also said investigations into the killing of the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community were still ongoing.

Tsav assured residents that those found responsible would be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.