Ebonyi Boundary Crisis Escalates: Four Beheaded in Renewed Clash Between Oso Edda and Amasiri Communities

 At least four persons were reportedly beheaded in a brutal attack during a renewed boundary dispute between Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area and the neighboring Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The incident occurred on Thursday night, January 29, 2026, when suspected armed assailants invaded Okporojo village in Oso Edda, killing victims, injuring others, abducting some residents, and setting several houses ablaze. Sources from the community alleged that the attackers came from the Amasiri axis, beheading at least four victims and taking away their heads, while two persons remain missing. Graphic videos circulating on social media show decapitated bodies in pools of blood amid burning structures.

The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the deaths, stating that four people were killed in the renewed fight over land. Police spokesperson noted that houses were burnt during the assault, and investigations have commenced to apprehend those responsible. Security operatives have been deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent further escalation.

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Internal Security, Etta Uka Ude, condemned the beheadings, describing the act as alien to the culture of the people and a barbaric escalation of the long-standing dispute. Governor Francis Nwifuru also strongly denounced the violence, calling it a flagrant disregard for human life and urging restraint while promising decisive action to address the root causes.

The Oso Edda-Amasiri boundary conflict has persisted for decades, with both communities claiming ancestral ownership of disputed land. Previous clashes have resulted in intermittent violence, loss of lives, and destruction of property worth billions of naira, highlighting ongoing challenges in resolving communal land disputes in the region.

Local residents have appealed to the state government and security agencies for urgent intervention, including permanent measures to demarcate boundaries and prevent future attacks. The incident has heightened tension in the affected areas, with calls for dialogue and enhanced security presence to avert a humanitarian crisis.

This renewed violence underscores the urgent need for sustained government efforts to mediate and resolve such protracted disputes, ensuring peace and safety for residents in Ebonyi State's rural communities. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations proceed.