The Headquarters, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has clarified that the ongoing security operation in Amasiri, Ebonyi State, is a joint intervention designed to protect innocent citizens, not an invasion of the community.
In a press statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the Division said its attention was drawn to videos circulating on social media in which some journalists criticised the deployment of troops to Amasiri following recent violent incidents in the area.
The Army described claims portraying the operation as an invasion as misleading, stressing that the deployment followed the killing and beheading of four persons in Okporojo village, Edda Local Government Area, as well as the discovery of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri.
According to the statement, the severity of these incidents necessitated urgent action to restore peace, protect lives, and bring those responsible to justice.
The statement further explained that the Ebonyi State Government, acting within its constitutional mandate to safeguard lives and property, imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools in Amasiri to prevent further escalation and ensure public safety.
Security agencies were subsequently deployed to enforce the curfew, facilitate uninterrupted investigations, protect medical and forensic teams, and manage the humanitarian dimensions of the crisis.
The joint operation involves the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The teams are carrying out intelligence-led patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and forensic exhumations in affected locations.
According to the Army, credible intelligence has identified multiple burial sites, including those of adults and children, underscoring the gravity of the crimes and the need for a sustained security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further violence.
The statement emphasized that the operation is not targeted at the people of Amasiri, but at criminal elements exploiting communal tensions to commit heinous acts. It added that the exercise remains professional, intelligence-driven, and is being conducted in collaboration with local leaders to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Nigerian Army and sister security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to protecting all citizens without bias and stated that the operation would continue until peace is fully restored and perpetrators are apprehended.
Members of the public were urged to disregard misinformation and support ongoing efforts to secure Afikpo North Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
