Ebonyi Boundary Killings: Army vows to recover severed heads, says no soldier killed

2026-02-04 - 12:39

By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki The Nigerian Army has vowed to recover the severed heads of victims killed during a recent attack on Okporojo village in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, allegedly carried out by suspected warlords from Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area. The Army also dismissed reports claiming that soldiers were killed during the operation in Amasiri, describing such claims as false. Suspected warlords reportedly attacked Okporojo village in Oso Edda on January 29, 2026, killing four persons and setting several houses ablaze. Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Cantonment Commander of the Nigerian Army in Nkwagu, Ebonyi State, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Chielo, said efforts were in top gear to restore peace and order in both Okporojo village and Amasiri community. He condemned the killings, particularly the beheading of the victims, and assured that the Army would work with other security agencies to recover the missing heads. “You cannot just kill people and then cut off their heads. These are human beings, our brothers, people from the same ancestral stock. It is deeply saddening,” Chielo said, adding that such acts were unimaginable to him while growing up. The commander also refuted rumours of soldiers’ deaths during the operation. “None of my men was killed. The operation in Amasiri is a joint one involving the Army, Police, DSS, and Civil Defence,” he stated. According to him, troops came under attack on the first day of deployment but exercised restraint because the area was built up, to avoid civilian casualties. “We acted professionally. If emotions had guided our response, the situation could have been far worse,” he said. Chielo commended Governor Francis Nwifuru’s interventions aimed at restoring peace, insisting the governor’s actions were neither weak nor delayed. “If you see the level of cruelty involved, you will not say the governor is too lenient. What did an elderly woman walking with a stick do to deserve such treatment?” he asked, warning that unchecked violence could trigger reprisals the state is trying to prevent. The Army commander further raised concern over rising drug abuse and the movement of small arms across the Southeast, describing both as major contributors to insecurity. “States are gradually becoming transit routes for small arms. People disguise their movements, even pretending to go to farms, while transporting weapons. Drug abuse is also a serious problem,” he warned, urging communities not to rely solely on government but to support security efforts. He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to working with stakeholders to sustain peace in Ebonyi State and the wider Southeast.