Gov Nwifuru Restores Dethroned Monarchs, Warns Against Fresh Clashes as Govt Moves to End 100-Year Amasiri-Edda Land War

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has reinstated two traditional rulers previously dethroned amid violent communal strife, signaling a breakthrough in efforts to resolve a century-old boundary dispute between neighboring communities.

The reinstated royal fathers—HRH Ezeogo Onya Idam Bassey of Amasiri and HRH Ezeogo Godfrey Obia Okoh, Isaka Ogu IV, of Ndukwe—had their crowns restored following the formal submission of an interim report by the Amasiri-Edda Boundary Adjustment and Demarcation Committee. The committee was established to investigate the root causes of the recurring border skirmishes between the Amasiri people in Afikpo Local Government Area and Oso-Edda in Edda Local Government Area.

Receiving the report at his office in the Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, Governor Nwifuru stressed that social instability and armed hostilities will not be tolerated under his administration. He noted that communal friction has cast a long shadow over the state’s development, explaining that the decision to reverse the dethronement of the monarchs reflects the government’s willingness to make constructive compromises in the broader interest of reconciliation.

Nwifuru directed both sides to maintain strict compliance with existing boundaries pending the final physical demarcation exercise, warning against unauthorized land occupation, farming intrusions, and provocative movements along the contested border lines. He noted that the dispute has dragged on for more than a hundred years and commended the peace committee for conducting exhaustive fieldwork to map out workable boundary adjustments.

Addressing rumors surrounding the dispute, the governor dismissed claims suggesting the state government was taking sides or victimizing any community. He reiterated that the administration holds no partisan interest in the disputed territory, maintaining that true development remains impossible without lasting communal harmony.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Peace Committee, Prof. Paul Nwobasi, revealed that members held extensive town-hall interactions with community leaders, visited affected villages, and drew preliminary survey maps to determine an equitable boundary division. Nwobasi described the dispute as a protracted, complex challenge, applauding the governor’s proactive commitment to finding a peaceful settlement.

While local residents greeted the reinstatement of their traditional rulers with relief, community voices have urged the state government to address underlying grievances. Stakeholders have appealed for the unconditional release and rehabilitation of detained youths, enhanced security surveillance along rural link roads, and compensation for families who lost homes and livelihoods during the hostilities.