Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has announced that schools will remain shut in the Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area, despite the relaxation of the curfew in the area.
Amasiri was recently involved in a renewed land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo, in the Oso community of Edda Local Government Area, which led to several deaths and the destruction of several properties.
The killings assumed a gruesome dimension with the attackers beheading four of the victims and escaping with the severed heads.
Mr Nwifuru, during a visit to the area on January 31, 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.
The governor, while briefing journalists at the end of the state Security Council meeting on Tuesday, announced that schools would remain shut in the area despite the relaxation of the curfew.
“The curfew has been relaxed from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. presently. Schools would, however, remain shut because the Security Council did not remember the issue in its deliberations.
“This is a germane issue that could not have been brought to our attention if the journalist did not do so,” he said.
He noted that the opening of schools presently had its disadvantages due to the dire security situation in the area.
“The government’s actions on Amasiri are not to show power but to maintain law and order in the people’s interest.
“Nobody hates them, and if not for these security measures, there could have been full-blown communal conflict in the area with several deaths recorded.
“Amasiri would have been contending with several communities, as they also killed and beheaded an Akpoha indigene and severed his head from the body,” he said.
Mr Nwifuru maintained that the Amasiri people must produce the severed heads of the Okporo indigenes, as the government was not taking the issue lightly.
“They have failed to produce the heads within the period given to them, and that made the government respond appropriately with more severe sanctions.
“We would not make the sanctions public and are also not distracted by the social media antics of indigenes of the community,” he said.
(NAN)