The Ebonyi government has ordered the destruction of all shrines and deities in the Amasiri community of the Afikpo LGA due to its complicity in a recent violent conflict.
Francis 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, following an enlarged state security meeting on Thursday.
Amasiri was recently involved in a renewed land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo, in the Oso community of the Edda LGA. The dispute led to several deaths and the destruction of properties.
The killings became gruesome when attackers decapitated four victims and escaped with their severed heads.
Mr Nwifuru had imposed sanctions on Amasiri, including sacking its political appointees, dethroning its traditional rulers, imposing a curfew, and closing schools, among others.
Mr Nwifuru directed the Amasiri stakeholders to show the government and security agencies the locations of the shrines and deities.
“The state government has constituted a 19-member committee to demarcate the disputed boundary between the Okporojo and Amasiri communities. The demarcation has become expedient since the two parties had signed an agreement to that effect.
“The committee is headed by the state commissioner for border and conflict resolution, Paul Nwobashi, and includes the surveyor general of the state and the commissioner for lands and survey, among others,” he said.
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.
(NAN)