The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the destruction of all shrines and deities in Amasiri community of Afikpo Local Government Area, over its complicity in a recent violent conflict.
Nwifuru gave the order for the demolition of the shrines and deities in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Monday Uzor on Friday after an enlarged state security meeting on Thursday.
Amasiri was recently engulfed in a renewed land dispute with neighbouring Okporojo, in the Oso community of Edda Local Government Area.
The dispute 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.
Nwifuru had imposed sanctions on Amasiri, which included the sacking of its political appointees, dethronement of its traditional rulers, placement of curfew, closure of schools, among others.
The governor had insisted at several fora that punitive measures should be sustained on the community until the severe heads are returned and perpetrators of the dastardly act arrested.
Nwifuru directed stakeholders of Amasiri 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 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, Prof. Paul Nwobashi and includes the surveyor general of the state; 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 Okporojo killings are recovered,” he said.
