Amasiri Fires Back: Community Debunks Beheading Allegation, Demands Independent Probe.

By Raymond Enoch

Isioru Amasiri, the internal security organ of Amasiri community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has strongly denied allegations that warriors from the area were responsible for the killing and beheading of an Edda indigene during a renewed land-related confrontation between Ndukwe (Amasiri) and Osso (Edda Local Government Area) communities.

The accusation followed a violent clash over the ownership of a disputed piece of land known as Okporojo, a boundary zone between Oso and Idima. Ndukwe maintains that the land was leased years ago to Edda hunters who established seasonal residence and paid annual rent. The Edda community, however, claims that the land is now fully theirs. This lingering disagreement has triggered repeated episodes of violence, resulting in the loss of lives and property.

After the most recent confrontation, a headless body believed to be that of Dick Nnachi, an indigene of Oso Edda, was discovered. Leaders from the Edda community were quick to accuse Amasiri of the act, labeling it an intentional killing and beheading carried out by Amasiri warriors.

In a swift and strongly worded rebuttal issued by Chinweike Okocha Ezeh and Hon. Etu Richard Obiahu, chairman and secretary of Isioru Amasiri respectively, the Amasiri community categorically denied any involvement, calling the allegations baseless, false, and dangerously provocative.

The statement noted that the peace-loving people of Amasiri have been alarmed by the grievous and malicious allegations being spread by factions within the Edda community. According to the Amasiri leadership, there is no evidence—eyewitness accounts, video footage, or intelligence reports—that implicates anyone from their community.

They accused the Edda community of following a recurring pattern of deflection whenever internal unrest arises within their area. The Amasiri leaders alleged that the latest claims are aimed at inciting public outrage, provoking reprisal attacks, and manipulating security agencies into unjustly targeting Amasiri people.

They reiterated that Amasiri has never resorted to violence in settling disputes and has always chosen the path of dialogue and legal resolution. They added that their community has hosted numerous peace meetings facilitated by the Ebonyi State Government and security stakeholders.

The leadership further emphasized that Amasiri is home to many Edda residents who live peacefully and conduct business without harassment, noting that the community has no culture or record of violence or beheading. They described themselves as law-abiding farmers, businessmen, and professionals focused on community development and peaceful coexistence.

They went on to highlight several instances where Amasiri residents have been victims of violence, particularly attacks and kidnappings allegedly orchestrated by elements from the Edda axis. They cited the unresolved case of a retired soldier, his wife, and another woman who were abducted months ago. Despite a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police in March 2025, no visible action has been taken, they said.

The Amasiri community, while distancing itself from the latest incident, issued four specific demands. They called on the Edda community and its spokespersons to immediately retract the allegations. They urged the Nigeria Police Force and relevant security agencies to launch an impartial and full-scale investigation into the killing to uncover the truth and identify the real perpetrators.

They also appealed to the security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and avoid victimizing the entire Amasiri population based on unverified reports. Finally, they demanded the deployment of neutral and increased security personnel to the buffer zones separating the two communities to prevent further violence.

The statement concluded with a strong declaration of innocence and a plea for fairness and justice. The Amasiri leadership maintained that the community will cooperate fully with any investigation but will not sit back while their people are scapegoated for crimes they did not commit.

They warned that continued misinformation and incitement could worsen the fragile security situation in the region and called on all stakeholders, including the state government and security agencies, to act swiftly and impartially.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the matter, while tension remains high in the affected communities.