By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki
The Nigerian Military has vowed to get better all of the heads severed in Okporojo village in Edda Native Authorities Space of Ebonyi State by suspected warlords from Amasiri in Afikpo Native Authorities Space of the state.
The Military additionally dismissed the rumours that troopers have been killed by warlords within the Amasiri group through the assaults.
Some suspected warlords on January 29, 2026, attacked, killed and beheaded 4 individuals in Okporojọ village in Oso Edda and burnt many homes.
The Cantonment commander of the Nigerian Military, Nkwagu Ebonyi State, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Chielo, who disclosed this in a press briefing, mentioned that efforts are in high gear to make sure the return of peace and order within the struggle zone of Okporojo village and Amasiri.
Chielo, nonetheless, decried the rising problems with drug abuse amongst Youths and the motion of small arms within the southeast area.
“There’s at all times a variety of underlying causes of insecurity. The most important one that’s of great concern is the problem of communal clashes. Communal clashes over ancestral land, chieftaincy title, and so forth.
“And once more, a variety of effort has been made, even prior to now, on a few of these safety points. And that’s why the extent of peace we’re having fun with in Ebonyi State. I’m certain in your entire Southeast, Ebonyi State is essentially the most peaceable for the time being.
“And that’s a truth. If not for a few of these points that I’ve enumerated, Ebonyi State is essentially the most peaceable within the Southeast. And that’s as a result of it didn’t simply occur.
“One of many key points is that we would like the heads of these folks beheaded. You possibly can’t kill folks. It’s not sufficient that you just kill them. You now reduce off their heads as if they’re animals.
“What are you doing to the heads of your fellow human beings? And what’s much more painful is that these are our brothers. It’s not as if it’s Yoruba, or somebody from Mali or Niger.
“These are folks from the identical ancestors. It’s actually saddening. Whereas I used to be rising up, I by no means imagined that one thing like this might occur in Nigeria,” Chielo said.
Whereas talking on the alleged killing of two troopers in Amasiri, the commander mentioned: “None of my males was killed. The operation in Amasiri is a joint one with the police, the DSS and civil defence. That could be a joint operation. What occurred was that on the primary day of our deployment, they in all probability assumed that the energy of troopers there was only a few.
“They usually attacked us, really. And we responded. The one factor is that, as a result of the realm was a built-up space, they needed to be cautious in order that we don’t have casualties of capturing straight bullets and killing harmless folks of their properties.
“If not, that night time, a variety of issues would have gone incorrect. We simply tried to be very skilled. If we had used annoyance or emotion to behave that night time, it might have been bloody.
“We have been pretty attacked. So, other than that, none of my troopers have been killed on this operation,” he emphasised.
Chielo, nonetheless, backed the actions of the governor, Francis Nwifuru, in direction of the restoration of peace and order in each Okporojo village and Amasiri group.
“I heard some individuals are speaking or blaming the governor for the motion he took over the matter. Even if you’re the one who goes to that place, you’ll not say the governor is just too lenient. For those who go to that place, an previous lady strolling with a strolling stick, you behead her.
“What has she carried out to you? Struggling to outlive, struggling to reside. Now, if these folks mobilise and say they wish to perform a reprisal assault, are you going in charge them? And that’s what we are attempting to forestall. It’s not as in the event that they don’t have the capability to do this,” he mentioned.
Chielo additionally decried the rising drug abuse and motion of small arms within the southeast area.
“Now, other than the problem of communal conflict, one other main safety risk, which we’re additionally engaged on, is that each state is step by step changing into a transit for motion of small arms. It’s an issue.
“Chances are you’ll not see it now, however it’s an issue. You see folks with keke, as if they will farm. They’re carrying weapons to go and ship to any individual.
“Aside from that, the problem of medicine can also be there. And all this stuff are contributory elements. However much more might be carried out. And we should always not solely depend on the federal government,” he warned.
The put up Ebonyi boundary killings: Army vows to recover severed heads appeared first on Vanguard News.
