Nigeria: Ebonyi boundary crisis: Security operatives uncover shallow graves with mutilated bodies in Amasiri

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

A joint team of security operatives has discovered multiple shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri, a community in Ebonyi State, following a violent boundary conflict with the neighboring Okporojo Oso Edda community. The operation, led by the Nigerian Army, was prompted by the gruesome killings and beheadings of four individuals in Okporojo village, which triggered urgent intervention to restore peace and protect innocent lives.

According to Lt. Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division, the troops were deployed to enforce a curfew imposed by the Ebonyi State Government and to conduct intelligence-driven patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and forensic exhumations in the affected areas. “Credible intelligence has further revealed multiple sites where victims were buried, including adults and children. The discovery of these graves underscores the scale of the crimes committed and the necessity of a robust security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further violence,” Ayeni stated.

The security operation, which includes personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Security, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, aims to target criminal elements exploiting communal tensions, rather than intimidating local residents. Ayeni emphasized that the intervention is intelligence-led, professional, and conducted in partnership with local leadership to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Ebonyi State Government imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools in Amasiri to prevent escalation and ensure public safety. The security agencies are working to enforce the curfew, support investigations, protect medical teams, and manage the humanitarian implications of the crisis.

The discovery of these shallow graves highlights the severity of the violence in the region and the need for sustained security measures to restore peace and bring perpetrators to justice. The operation will continue until peace is fully restored and justice is served.