Residents of Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have petitioned the National Assembly, accusing the state government and security agencies of widespread human rights violations amid an ongoing boundary dispute.
The petition, dated March 11, 2026, and filed by M.O. Idam Attorneys on behalf of the residents (represented by Lawrence Ikpe, Idam Amadi Idam, Philip Eze, Emmanuel Ekuma, and Oko Agha), was addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and the House Committee on Public Petitions.
The petitioners alleged unlawful operations by the Ebonyi State Government, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following a curfew imposed by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
They claimed these actions led to extrajudicial killings, destruction of private homes and cultural heritage sites, looting of ancestral relics, unlawful blockage of federal highways, closure of schools and markets, and severe restrictions on access to medical facilities and basic services.
The community reportedly faces hardship, with children prevented from sitting national examinations due to school shutdowns, and innocent residents subjected to military brutality.
The petitioners described the situation as stemming from a long-standing boundary dispute between Amasiri and neighboring Oso-Edda communities over the Okporojo farm settlement, which has spanned generations and occasionally escalated into retaliatory violence, deaths, and property destruction on both sides.
They argued that the security response has escalated beyond communal tensions, causing grave humanitarian consequences for civilians unrelated to the conflict.
“In palpable helplessness, we respectfully submit this petition, our clients have found themselves in circumstances where their fundamental human rights are being undermined through the actions and operations of state authorities and security agencies,” the petition stated in part.
The residents urged the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, intervene to protect constitutional rights, and restore peace in the area.
The dispute has roots in earlier incidents, including reported killings in Okporojo (Oso-Edda) in early 2026, which prompted the curfew (later partially relaxed) and other measures by the Ebonyi government.
No immediate response from the Ebonyi State Government or security agencies to the latest petition was available as of March 23, 2026.
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