Joint security operatives have uncovered several shallow graves containing bodies of victims allegedly killed during the long-running boundary dispute between Amasiri community and Okporojí Oso Edda in Ebonyi State.
The discovery followed intensified security operations in the area after renewed violence linked to the communal crisis.
Reacting to allegations of militarisation in Amasiri, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, said the deployment of troops was aimed at enforcing the state-imposed curfew and protecting lives and property, not intimidating residents.
According to him, credible intelligence revealed multiple burial sites in the community, involving both adults and children, underscoring the severity of the violence and the need for sustained security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further attacks.
Lt. Colonel Ayeni explained that troops were deployed following the killing of four persons in Okporojo village, Edda Local Government Area, and the subsequent discovery of shallow graves in Amasiri. He noted that the situation required urgent intervention to restore peace, protect civilians, and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
He also dismissed circulating social media videos portraying the security operation as an invasion, describing such claims as misleading and inaccurate.
“The intervention of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in Amasiri is not an invasion. It is a lawful response to violent crimes threatening lives and public order,” he said.
The Ebonyi State Government, he added, imposed a curfew and temporarily shut down schools in the affected community as part of measures to prevent escalation and safeguard residents.
Security agencies were deployed to enforce the curfew, support ongoing investigations, protect medical and humanitarian teams, and manage the broader security implications of the crisis.
The joint operation involves personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The teams are conducting intelligence-led patrols, search operations, and forensic investigations across affected areas.
Lt. Colonel Ayeni stressed that the operation is not targeted at the people of Amasiri but at criminal elements exploiting the communal dispute to carry out violent acts.
“The mission is professional, intelligence-driven, and carried out in collaboration with community leaders to ensure transparency, accountability, and lasting peace,” he stated.
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