By Amara Agha AbakalikiThe Nigerian Army has issued a stern demand for the immediate release of the severed heads of victims taken away after last week’s deadly attack on Okporojo community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, describing the act as a disturbing descent into barbarism.
Suspected warlords invaded the community, killing five persons, beheading four of them and carting away their heads, while also burning several houses and injuring many residents.
The attack represents a violent escalation of the long-running land dispute between Oso Edda and neighbouring Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area, a crisis that has claimed numerous lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira over the years.
Condemning the killings, the Cantonment Commander of Nkwagu Military Cantonment, Lt. Col. Ikenna Chielo, said the violence occurred despite renewed government efforts to finally resolve the boundary dispute.
“Amasiri crisis did not start today. It is a long-standing problem, and even past administrations made efforts to resolve it,” Chielo said.
He disclosed that a committee previously set up to address the conflict had produced a report that was submitted to the government, noting that the present administration had begun implementing its recommendations before the latest attack occurred.
“While these efforts were ongoing, people were killed. And it was not just killing — their heads were cut off and taken away. One of the key issues is that we want the heads of those people returned,” he said.
The army commander described the act as particularly painful, stressing that the attackers and victims share the same ancestry and warning that such brutality signals a dangerous collapse of communal values.
“These are our brothers, not people from another tribe or another country. What are you doing with the heads of your fellow human beings?” he asked.
Lt. Col. Chielo dismissed rumours that two soldiers deployed to the area were killed, clarifying that troops came under attack but exercised restraint to prevent civilian casualties.
“They probably assumed our strength was small and attacked us on the first day. We responded professionally. Because it was a built-up area, we acted with restraint. If we had reacted emotionally, it would have been bloody. None of my soldiers was killed in this operation,” he said.
The Nigerian Army said it remains committed to restoring peace in the area but warned that continued brutality would not be tolerated as security forces maintain their presence in the affected communities.
