Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Residents of Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have left their homes over the 72-hours ultimatum issued to the community by the state Governor, Francis Nwifuru and the security chiefs in the state, to produce the heads of those severed by suspected warlords in the recent 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.
Recall that the crisis led to the beheading of four people by suspected persons last week with houses razed down and other valuable property destroyed while the crisis lasted.
The residents of the community were seen in their large numbers in the early hours of yesterday with their luggage 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 abandon their town to avert a possible reprisal and the stringent actions the state government threatened to take against us.
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 said 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.
