Ebonyi Community Petitions National Assembly Over Alleged Rights Violations
Residents of Amasiri, a community located in the Afikpo Local Council of Ebonyi State, have formally petitioned the National Assembly regarding alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the Ebonyi State Government and various security agencies. The petition, dated March 11, 2026, was addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and the House Committee on Public Petitions.
Allegations Against Government and Security Forces
The residents, represented by individuals including Lawrence Ikpe, Idam Amadi Idam, Philip Eze, Emmanuel Ekuma, and Oko Agha, filed the petition through M.O. Idam Attorneys. They accused the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps of conducting unlawful operations within their autonomous communities. These actions are said to have occurred following a curfew imposed by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
The petitioners detailed severe allegations, claiming that the security operations resulted in extrajudicial killings, unlawful blockades of federal highways, closures of schools and markets, and the destruction of homes and cultural heritage sites. They asserted that members of the affected villages are currently enduring significant hardship due to these disruptions, which have severely impacted daily life and restricted access to essential services.
Impact on Daily Life and Community Welfare
According to the petition, the community has faced military brutality, with several innocent individuals reportedly killed during the operations. Schools have been shut down, preventing children from participating in national examinations, while access to medical facilities has been obstructed. The petition emphasized the residents' helplessness, stating that their constitutional protections are gravely threatened.
The petition read in part: "Our clients have found themselves in circumstances where their fundamental human rights, as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are being undermined through the actions and operations of state authorities and security agencies."
Additionally, the petitioners alleged that federal highways passing through Amasiri have been blocked, severely affecting movement, economic activities, and access to essential services. Security operatives were also accused of destroying private homes and looting ancestral relics and artefacts belonging to the community.
Root Cause: Longstanding Boundary Dispute
The current situation is linked to a protracted boundary dispute between Amasiri and the neighbouring Oso-Edda communities of Edda over ownership of a farm settlement known as Okporojo. The petitioners explained that this conflict has spanned several generations, occasionally resulting in retaliatory attacks and loss of lives and property on both sides.
They noted that the dispute has escalated beyond communal tensions, with the response by security agencies allegedly leading to widespread suffering among innocent residents. The petition clarified: "The situation, however, has escalated beyond communal tensions into what our clients describe as large-scale military operations that have resulted in grave humanitarian consequences for innocent civilians."
Call for National Assembly Intervention
In response to these allegations, the residents have called on the National Assembly to investigate the claims and intervene to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights and the restoration of peace in Amasiri. They seek accountability and justice for the reported violations, urging immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in their community.
