Follow Us on Google
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Thousands of residents of the Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have left the community over the 72-hours ultimatum issued to the community by Governor Francis Nwifuru and security chiefs in the state, to produce the heads of those beheaded by suspected warlords in the war between the community and Okporojo, Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The community was also ordered to release four people abducted in the war by the warlords within the 72 hours, which will elapse today, or face more stringent measures.
The residents of the community were seen in their thousands in the early hours of yesterday with their luggages and other belongings leaving the community.
Those who left the community included aged people, women and children. But most men and youths of the community stayed back, apparently to protect their homes and properties from being looted.
A post by an indigene of the community on his social media handle said, “the situation in Amasiri has taken a new dimension this morning. Thousands of our indigenes are fleeing their homes, fearing government action after the 72 hours ultimatum expires.
“So many of them were seen with their luggage running into Afikpo town to seek refuge, while others have fled to Cross River State. Aged women and men, mothers and children are all leaving our community. Our community is gradually becoming a ghost town. We need help”.
Some indigenes of the community who spoke to journalists said that they decided to flee the town to avert a possible reprisal and the stringent actions the state government threatened to take against us.
One of them, a nursing mother, who gave her name as Charity, said, “we have endured hardship, hunger, and restricted movement in and out of our compounds in the last one week and more; we cannot afford to remain here while the state government imposes more stringent actions against us.
Other News
“Unfortunately, those who are suffering are the innocent population of our community. Those who perpetrated the act have all run into the bushes or fled the community. The government should go after the masterminds and the perpetrators; we and our children are suffering the actions of a few individuals.
“Some of our people who do not have their families outside Amasiri are now trapped in the community, awaiting the action of the state government. There is great fear and tension in the community. People are not sure what to expect from tomorrow. Those leaving are those who have relatives outside the community.
“Some others are renting accommodations in Afikpo town and relocating their families to the town. Because of the mass exodus of people, there is a gradual hike in accommodation now in Afikpo. We need the compassion and mercy of the governor, the founding fathers and the Elders Council. We are asking for mercy,”, she said.
Another resident of the area and businessman, who hails from Abia State, Chimaobi Kalu, appealed to the state government to consider the non indigenes who have their businesses in the community, adding that their businesses have been shut down for over a week.
He noted that many of them are already considering relocating their businesses to other towns in the state, adding that relocating their businesses would have a multiplier effect on them and the business.
We believe that the state government has security reports and privileged information on the remote and immediate cause of the crisis and attack. We are appealing to them to use all available government apparatus to apprehend the masterminds and the actual perpetrators of the evil act.
“Amasiri has been shut down for over a week now. Movements are restricted, children no longer go to school, churches are shut down, businesses are closed down, women and men can no longer go to market. People have finished the food stuff in their homes. People are already starving, there is hunger in the land, the governor should show us mercy”, he pleaded.
Kalu stated that he has relocated his family to Abia State. “I have relocated my family to Abia State, my hometown. I am only staying back to protect my business from looters. We are still secured and our businesses protected because of the patrol of the military and other security agencies. With the high level of hunger in the community now, we risk a possible looting of the items in our shops.
Meanwhile, the state government is yet to issue any further directive as the 72-hour ultimatum is expected to end today.
