The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a government official and two traditional rulers in connection with the killing of four persons during a violent land dispute in Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this on Monday in Abakaliki while speaking with newsmen.
Ukandu said Anya Baron-Ogbonnia, the Coordinator of the Amasiri Development Centre in Afikpo, was arrested alongside two traditional rulers from the Amasiri community—Onyaidam Bassey and Godfrey Oko-Obia.
According to him, the arrests followed a joint security operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He added that the latest arrests bring the number of suspects detained in connection with the killings to at least 10, noting that investigations are still ongoing.
The killings reportedly stemmed from a long-standing land dispute between the people of Okporojor in Oso Edda community, Edda Local Government Area, and their neighbours from Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area.
Police said suspected warlords from the Amasiri community attacked Okporojor village on January 29, killing and beheading four persons, as well as burning houses and destroying other properties.
“Yes, following the Thursday attack, the coordinator of Amasiri, two traditional rulers and other individuals have been arrested by a joint security team. All suspects are currently in our custody, and investigations are continuing,” Ukandu said.
He assured that the police and other security agencies would ensure that all those responsible for the killings are brought to justice.
In response to the violence, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, had earlier taken decisive action by sacking political appointees from the Amasiri community and dethroning traditional rulers accused of complicity in the crisis.
During a visit to the affected Okporojor community on Saturday, the governor said the state government could no longer tolerate repeated violence in the area.
“All government appointees from Amasiri, from development centre officials to commissioners, have been sacked. Traditional rulers from the community will have their certificates of recognition withdrawn, while all town union leaderships are hereby dissolved,” Nwifuru declared.
The governor added that the measures were aimed at restoring lasting peace and deterring further violence in the affected communities.
