The Ebonyi State Government has officially ended the curfew imposed on Amasiri Autonomous Community in Afikpo Local Government Area. The restriction was lifted three months following the deaths of four individuals from Okporojo Village in Idima Community, Edda Local Government Area.
Mrs. E.Y. Kolawole, the Director of the State Security Service (DSS) in Ebonyi, shared this update during a press briefing after a security council meeting at the Governor’s Office in Abakaliki on Monday. She confirmed that the curfew has been fully lifted but emphasized that security personnel will remain stationed in the region to preserve peace and order.
Kolawole further stated that authorities are preparing to declare wanted other suspects still at large in connection with the attack.
The State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Ben Odoh, explained that the government’s decision was influenced by multiple apology letters from the Amasiri Community, which were accepted by the Okporojo Village. Odoh noted that these letters were submitted through Amasiri’s traditional leaders, who pledged their dedication to peace and reconciliation.
Odoh also revealed that appeals from founding fathers and the council of elders played a key role in the government’s rejection of a proposed bill that sought to remove Amasiri Development Centre from the list of the state’s 64 development centres.
Regarding the return to normalcy, Mrs. Rita Mary Okoro, the State Head of Service, stated that her office will oversee the removal of restrictions on schools and healthcare facilities in the area. She added that a circular will be sent to the Ministries of Education and Health, along with the Local Government Service Commission, to facilitate the return of staff previously redeployed from Amasiri Development Centre.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Okafor, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Tarzan Tsav, announced that investigations into the murder of the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Eze Francis Igwe, have been completed, and suspects will soon face charges. He also mentioned that inquiries into the killing of the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community are ongoing, with assurances that those responsible will be prosecuted once the investigation concludes.