~Activist Lawyer Warns of Impending Massacre, Calls for Immediate Withdrawal of Troops
AMASIRI, Ebonyi State – Tension gripped the once-serene community of Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Thursday following a heavy military presence reportedly linked to a longstanding land dispute with the neighboring Edda community.
Eyewitnesses and local sources told Hobnob News that large contingents of military personnel stormed Amasiri in what appeared to be a response to escalating hostilities over the ownership of ancestral land. The dispute, which has simmered for decades, recently intensified, sparking fears of a full-blown conflict between the two border communities.
According to activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam, the military’s presence—allegedly solicited by individuals from Edda with political connections—has thrown Amasiri into chaos and fear. In a statement titled “A Cry for Urgent Help, Amasiri on Fire,” Idam accused the military of laying siege to a peaceful community under the guise of maintaining peace.
“With teary eyes and a heavy heart, I am crying out this morning as a concerned indigene of Amasiri, Afikpo, to alert Nigerians of a despicable, teleguided military incursion which has occasioned a siege in what was once one of the most peaceful communities in Nigeria,” Idam said.
He described the situation as a calculated move to provoke violence against Amasiri, accusing the Edda community of previously launching several unprovoked attacks in a bid to seize the disputed land. “This military incursion is a contrived bait to provoke a massacre on the defenceless, peaceful people of Amasiri,” he warned.
Idam called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Commander of Nkwegu Military Cantonment to immediately withdraw troops from the area, citing the risk of an “unwarranted possible carnage.”
The activist also criticized the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru, for what he described as deafening silence in the face of growing unrest and rising casualties linked to the land conflict. “Despite several calls and reports on the loss of lives and property, the governor has remained unresponsive,” Idam lamented.
He urged the state government to intervene urgently to broker peace between the two communities. “Amasiri people are willing to accept every peaceful approach that will bring a lasting solution to the matter,” he said, adding that only swift intervention could prevent a tragedy.
The Amasiri-Edda land tussle spans several years and is rooted in the control of an ancestral expanse believed to hold historical and cultural significance for both communities. Though past administrations attempted to mediate, no lasting resolution has been reached.
Local residents say the dispute has worsened in recent months, with increasing reports of attacks, destruction of farmlands, and sporadic violence. Thursday’s military deployment marks the most significant security intervention yet and has only heightened tensions.
Call for National Attention
As the crisis unfolds, calls are mounting for national figures, civil society organizations, and human rights groups to take notice and intervene. Idam, in his address, implored Nigerians to “speak out against the military presence and the quiet efforts to forcefully subdue a vulnerable community.”
The Army is yet to issue an official statement on the deployment, and attempts to reach the Ebonyi State Government for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
For now, the people of Amasiri wait—fearful, uncertain, and pleading for peace.
