Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Amasiri community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have raised serious concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in the area following the prolonged shutdown of schools, hospitals, markets and other essential services amid an escalating communal conflict and security crackdown. Community spokesperson Joy Idam said the measures imposed in response to the crisis have crippled daily life and left residents facing severe hardship, with some reportedly dying due to lack of medical access while children risk losing an entire academic year.
The crisis is rooted in a long-standing boundary dispute between Amasiri and neighbouring communities, particularly areas within the Oso Edda and Okporojo axis. Tensions escalated sharply in late January 2026 after a violent attack reportedly occurred in Okporojo village, where several people were killed and houses were burned. In response to the violence, the Ebonyi State Government imposed sweeping security measures across Amasiri, including a strict curfew, the closure of public and private institutions, and the deployment of soldiers and other security forces to the community.
Authorities also reportedly took a number of administrative actions targeting the community’s leadership structures. These included the dissolution of the Amasiri Development Centre, the removal of certain traditional rulers and political appointees from the area, and arrests of some local figures as investigations into the violence continued. According to community leaders, several key stakeholders who might have participated in peace negotiations or boundary demarcation efforts are currently in detention, complicating attempts to resolve the dispute.
Joy Idam, speaking publicly about the situation, described the conditions in Amasiri as a humanitarian crisis caused by what she termed excessive punitive measures imposed on the entire community. She said schools in the area have remained closed for weeks, preventing students from continuing their studies or registering for major national examinations. According to her, the closure has meant that many secondary school students were unable to register for key academic examinations including WAEC, NECO and JAMB, effectively causing an entire academic year to be lost for students in the community.
She also explained that children preparing for the common entrance examination were unable to sit for the test due to the shutdown of schools and the transfer of teachers from Amasiri to other parts of Ebonyi State. Community leaders warn that the disruption could have long-term consequences for educational development and the future prospects of affected students.
Beyond education, residents say the closure of hospitals and health facilities has created life-threatening conditions. Idam cited incidents in which pregnant women reportedly struggled to access medical care because health centres were closed and movement restrictions prevented them from reaching hospitals in neighbouring communities. In one case, she said a woman in labour attempted to travel outside the community for treatment but was unable to pass through security checkpoints and eventually delivered a stillborn baby at home. In another reported case, a woman who delivered at home due to lack of access to healthcare allegedly died from excessive bleeding shortly after childbirth, while her newborn also died days later.
Residents have also complained that the closure of markets and banks has devastated the local economy. Traders, farmers and artisans who rely on daily commerce have been unable to sell their goods or access income. Community members say the shutdown has disrupted food supplies and left many families struggling to survive financially.
In addition, some residents allege that humanitarian assistance such as food and medical supplies has been blocked from entering the community due to strict security enforcement around Amasiri. Idam claimed that individuals attempting to deliver supplies have sometimes been turned back at checkpoints, further worsening the situation for vulnerable residents, including elderly people suffering from chronic health conditions.
The spokesperson also accused security forces deployed to the community of destroying property and food supplies during operations, although these allegations have not been independently verified. According to her, the presence of soldiers and enforcement of curfews have effectively placed the community under what residents describe as a siege that has lasted several weeks.
As tensions persist, legal action has been initiated against the Ebonyi State Government and several security agencies. A lawyer from the community filed a lawsuit seeking substantial damages for alleged violations of residents’ fundamental rights, arguing that the sweeping sanctions imposed on Amasiri amount to collective punishment rather than targeted law enforcement against individuals responsible for the violence.
Community leaders have appealed to the federal government, human rights organisations and international bodies to intervene and help restore normal life in the area. Among their demands are the lifting of the curfew, the reopening of schools and hospitals, the release of detained community leaders and the establishment of an independent investigation into the violence that triggered the crisis.
Meanwhile, residents say fear and uncertainty continue to dominate daily life in Amasiri as the dispute remains unresolved. With schools closed, economic activities halted and access to healthcare limited, many families are calling for urgent dialogue and mediation to bring an end to the crisis and prevent further suffering in the community.
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