The Francis Nwifuru-led Ebonyi State Government has directed that all shrines and deities in the Amasiri be destroyed following allegations that the community played a role in a recent violent clash.
The order was issued by the governor after an expanded security meeting held on Thursday.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, on Friday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the crisis erupted from a renewed land dispute between Amasiri and neighbouring Okporojo.
The conflict reportedly resulted in several deaths and the destruction of properties in the affected communities.
The violence took a particularly gruesome turn when attackers allegedly beheaded four victims and fled with their severed heads.
Earlier, the governor had imposed a series of sanctions on Amasiri over the incident.
These measures included the removal of political appointees from the community, the dethronement of its traditional rulers, the imposition of a curfew and the closure of schools.
Nwifuru has repeatedly maintained at various forums that the sanctions would remain in place until the severed heads are recovered and those responsible for the killings are arrested.
As part of the latest directive, the governor instructed community stakeholders to lead government officials and security agencies to the locations of the shrines and deities.
“The state government has constituted a 19-member committee to demarcate the disputed boundary between the Okporojo and Amasiri communities.
“The demarcation has become expedient since the two parties had signed an agreement to that effect.
“The committee is headed by the State Commissioner for Border and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Paul Nwobashi, and includes the surveyor general of the state and the commissioner for lands and survey, among others,” he said.
He added that the curfew placed on the Amasiri community would remain in effect until the severed heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings are recovered.
