Nigerian Army discovers shallow graves with mutilated bodies in Ebonyi community
The Nigerian Army has disclosed discoveries of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after four people were beheaded over a protracted land dispute.
Penpushing reports that the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, adding that the authorities deployed troops in a joint operation within Amasiri and its adjoining communities to protect innocent citizens.
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement, however, pointed out that the attention of the Headquarters, 82 Division, had been drawn to videos circulating on social media, featuring journalists condemning deployment of troops to Amasiri following the killing of innocent citizens in the community
Penpushing further reports that he said that the intervention of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in Amasiri, and its adjoining communities, was not an invasion as portrayed by the videos.
The army spokesperson stated that, the narrative was misleading and did not reflect the true purpose of the joint operation.
“Troops were deployed as a direct response to the gruesome killings and beheadings of four individuals in Okporojo village, Edda Local Government Area, and subsequent discoveries of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri’.
“These atrocities demanded urgent intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring perpetrators to justice. The Ebonyi State Government, in line with its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, therefore imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools in Amasiri to prevent escalation and ensure public safety’, he stated.
“The security agencies were deployed to enforce the curfew, ensure uninterrupted investigations and security operations, protect medical teams, and manage the humanitarian implications of the crisis’, Ayeni added
Penpushing also reports that the Lieutenant Colonel explained that the joint teams, which included the Nigeria Police, the State Security Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, had been conducting intelligence-driven patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and forensic exhumations in the affected areas.
The army spokesperson added that credible intelligence had further revealed multiple sites where victims were buried, including adults and children, noting that the discovery of these graves underscored the scale of the crimes committed and the necessity of a robust security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further violence.
“It is important to stress that the deployment of troops is not targeted at the people of Amasiri but at criminal elements exploiting communal tensions to perpetrate heinous crimes.The operation is intelligence-led, professional, and conducted in partnership with local leadership to ensure transparency and accountability’.
“The Nigerian Army and sister agencies remain committed to protecting all citizens without bias; the intervention will continue until peace is fully restored, perpetrators are apprehended and justice is served. The public is urged to kindly disregard misinformation and support ongoing efforts to secure Afikpo North Council Area and its neighbouring communities,” he added.
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