Amasiri, Ebonyi State – The Amasiri community is reeling under what its spokesperson, Joy Idam, calls “punitive measures” imposed by the Ebonyi State government following a bitter land dispute. Schools, hospitals, and markets have been shuttered, leaving residents in dire straits, with Idam pleading for a more balanced approach from the authorities. The situation has escalated, with accusations of disproportionate impact on Amasiri residents, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
Here’s a quick rundown of the heart-wrenching situation:
- Crippling Service Shutdowns: Essential services like schools, hospitals, and markets have been shut down, denying residents access to vital resources.
- Education Interrupted: Children are losing an entire academic year, unable to write crucial examinations like NECO, WAEC, and JAMB.
- Healthcare Crisis: Preventable deaths are occurring due to the closure of medical facilities, with tragic instances of stillbirths and maternal mortality.
- Humanitarian Aid Blocked: Soldiers deployed to the area are reportedly hindering the delivery of food and medical supplies.
- Allegations of Brutality: Security forces are accused of property destruction and excessive force, while neighbouring communities allegedly carry out abductions.
- Legal Battles: The community has filed a substantial lawsuit and a petition to the International Criminal Court.
‘We Just Want Balance’: Amasiri Spokesperson’s Plea
Joy Idam, speaking with a heavy heart on ARISE News, didn’t mince words. She accused the Ebonyi government of acting in a heavy-handed manner, pushing the Amasiri people to the brink. “What my people seek is balance,” she stated emphatically. “We want hospitals to reopen. Our children deserve to learn.”
Idam painted a grim picture of life in Amasiri. She questioned the governor’s response to the escalating violence, suggesting a more conciliatory approach would have been appropriate. “If I were the governor,” she mused, “I would go to the community and preach peace, not impose collective punishment.”
She detailed a series of actions she deemed unjust:
- Dismissal of all political appointees from Amasiri.
- Dethroning and jailing of traditional rulers.
- Closure of schools, impacting over a year of education for students.
- Transfer of all public school teachers, leaving a void in education.
The impact on education is particularly devastating. “It means indirectly that every child from Amasiri has lost one academic year,” Idam explained. “And the Child Rights Act includes freedom to free and compulsory education.” This is a clear violation of fundamental rights.
Tragedy Strikes as Hospitals Remain Closed
The consequences of the healthcare shutdown are nothing short of tragic. Idam recounted harrowing stories of women dying due to lack of medical attention.
One pregnant woman, trying to reach a neighbouring community for help during a curfew, was turned back by soldiers. She ended up delivering a stillborn baby at home. “What was that baby’s crime?” Idam asked, her voice filled with anguish. “The child’s only crime was being from Amasiri.” In another devastating case, a woman bled to death after delivering at home, with her newborn baby also succumbing days later.
Accusations of Military Overreach and Blockades
Idam expressed bewilderment at the deployment of soldiers primarily in Amasiri, while the neighbouring Okporojo community, also involved in the dispute, appears less heavily policed. “I wonder why only in Amasiri and why there are no soldiers in Okporojo,” she questioned.
Worse still, the soldiers are allegedly involved in destroying property and blocking essential supplies. “There are videos of bags and heaps of rice being burnt by soldiers,” Idam revealed, highlighting the extent of the alleged brutality.
This “siege,” as she called it, has been ongoing for weeks, disrupting daily life completely. Markets, worship centres, and even the flow of food and medicine are impeded. “Senior citizens with high blood pressure are dying. Women are dying. Youths have died,” she lamented.
Denials and Counter-Accusations
Idam vehemently denied allegations that Amasiri residents were responsible for attacks on neighbouring communities. “It is not true. It is totally false and incorrect,” she asserted.
Instead, she accused Okporojo and Oso youths of setting up barricades on the Oso Federal Highway, targeting and abducting anyone identified as an Amasiri person. “In most cases, those people have never been seen again,” she reported, citing the disappearance of a retired warrant officer and his wife as examples of such alleged abductions by the Eda militia.
Regarding reports of beheadings, Idam stated the community has no knowledge of such events. She explained that the timing of the alleged incident coincided with a period of widespread mourning and burials in Amasiri following natural deaths, making such actions highly improbable.
Questions Over Government’s Mediation Efforts
The spokesperson also cast doubt on the effectiveness of a boundary committee recently established by the state government. “The major stakeholders who should work with that committee are in detention,” she pointed out.
With traditional rulers, the coordinator of the Amasiri Development Centre, and executive members of the Amasiri Town Union either detained or forced to flee, the committee appears to lack the necessary personnel to function effectively. “So I ask again: who is going to work with this committee?”
Legal Recourse: A Fight for Justice
In their pursuit of justice, the Amasiri community has taken significant steps. They have filed a ₦105 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit and submitted a petition to the International Criminal Court, citing alleged human rights violations.
“We are still expecting that it will be acted upon because it borders on violations of fundamental human rights,” Idam stated, hopeful for international intervention.
Ancestral Land Rights
On the core issue of the land dispute, Idam remains resolute. “The land in contention belongs to Amasiri and they know the truth,” she declared.
She drew a parallel to owning property, asking, “If you own a property in Maitama and some people are encroaching on your land, would you allow them to take what is your ancestral heritage and right?” The Amasiri people, she insists, are simply defending their rightful inheritance.
Key Historical Context on Land Disputes in Nigeria
Land disputes are a pervasive issue across Nigeria, often stemming from complex historical claims, colonial legacies, and population growth. These conflicts can escalate quickly, especially when traditional land management systems clash with modern administrative structures. The involvement of state governments, often acting as arbiters, can sometimes exacerbate tensions if perceived as biased. The Amasiri case highlights the critical need for transparent and equitable land dispute resolution mechanisms that respect both customary rights and legal frameworks, ensuring that communities are not subjected to collective punishment or humanitarian crises during such conflicts. International bodies like the ICC play a crucial role when domestic remedies are seen as inadequate or compromised, offering a potential avenue for accountability.
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