Nwifuru relaxes Amasiri curfew, orders prosecution of crisis suspects

By Jeff Agbodo

ABAKALIKI — Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced the relaxation of the curfew imposed on Amasiri community following the killing of four persons in Okporojo, Oso Edda, in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The governor said the curfew will now run daily from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., a measure aimed at easing restrictions on residents while sustaining security gains. He added that the government is considering reopening schools to protect the education of innocent children in Amasiri community.

Nwifuru also directed the police to charge to court all suspects arrested in connection with the crisis, rather than keeping them in prolonged custody.

The curfew was earlier imposed after four persons were killed and their heads severed by suspected Amasiri warlords, who also destroyed property worth millions of naira.

Briefing journalists after a State Security Council meeting with security operatives, the governor said more stringent measures would be taken to ensure the recovery of the remains of the victims and the restoration of lasting peace in the affected communities.

“At the meeting, the Council reviewed the curfew earlier imposed on Amasiri autonomous community. After careful deliberation and consideration of ongoing investigations, as well as progress made by security agencies, the Council adjusted the curfew to run from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily,” he said.

He explained that the Council deliberated on key steps needed to restore normalcy to Amasiri and Okporojo communities, stressing the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

According to him, the Council resolved that all persons arrested in connection with the crisis must be charged to court without delay and emphasised the need to recover the remains of those killed during the violence.

Nwifuru noted that under the law, suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, despite confessional statements reportedly obtained from some of those arrested.

He added that security agencies have made significant progress, resulting in relative peace in the affected areas, and maintained that the curfew and related measures were imposed strictly to maintain law and order.

The governor warned that without such interventions, the crisis could have escalated into a wider communal conflict.

The post Nwifuru relaxes Amasiri curfew, orders prosecution of crisis suspects appeared first on Vanguard News.