News
Amasiri Under Siege: Community Alleges Military Invasion, State-Sponsored Persecution in Ebonyi
…as Amasiri daughter, Joy Idam, accuse state government of alleged collective punishment, rights abuse, land grab
…appeal to global community to intervene
By Gloria Ikibah
Amasiri community in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, has raised alarm over what it described as an alleged military invasion, systematic persecution and attempted erasure of its people, calling on the international community, the media and human rights bodies to intervene urgently.
Speaking at a world press conference, Comrade Joy Idam, a daughter of the Amasiri clan, accused the Ebonyi State Government and security forces of alleged collective punishment following the killing of four elderly persons from the neighbouring Eda community—an incident she said Amasiri people were wrongly blamed for without evidence.
“You may know him by the cover of the state magazine, what’s his name again? And his comment was that four persons of elder descent had been beheaded,.
“On getting there, Amasiri, my community, was accused of being involved with the killings despite no video evidence, no account evidence of the said dastardly act” Idam said.
She stressed that the community condemned the killings, insisting that no life should be taken regardless of origin, but said the response that followed amounted to victimisation.
“Before now, there have been cases of Amasiri people being killed, being abducted from their farmlands. My people are predominantly farmers,” she said, adding that several petitions had been written over the years with no response from successive governments.
Idam alleged that despite these unresolved cases, the current Ebonyi State administration labelled Amasiri people as barbarians.
“My governor went to a forum and declared my people as barbarians.
“The same people for which one of them was his professor and lecturer. He wasn’t a barbarian then, but suddenly all my people have become barbarians,” she said.
She further alleged that Amasiri was recently removed as a recognised development centre in the state, describing it as a deliberate act of erasure.
“So Amasiri has been erased from the map of Ebonyi State.
“As we speak, there are over 300 soldiers in Amasiri. There was no war. There was no crisis,” she said.
Idam questioned the logic behind accusing Amasiri people of the killings, noting that the day the four elders were murdered coincided with multiple burials in her community.
“On that day, Amasiri had 20 burials going on simultaneously.
“Would somebody leave a burial to go and kill somebody, for Christ’s sake?,” she asked.
She traced the roots of the conflict to a long-standing land dispute involving Oso and Okorojo lands, which she said historically belonged to Amasiri, alleging that Eda settlers later laid claim to the land.
“Where is it ever heard of that a tenant suddenly becomes landlord?” she asked.
Idam also narrated alleged incidents of past attacks on Amasiri people, including the killing of a retired warrant officer.
“What was his crime? He’s an Amasiri man. They beheaded him, his wife and the wife’s younger sister. He did not die in service. He was killed for being Amasiri”, she said.
She accused soldiers of human rights violations, including burning farm produce, destroying homes and shooting at women protesters.
“The army set ablaze bags of rice that women had harvested.
“When women peacefully protested, the army opened fire. One woman was shot in the head and later died from excessive bleeding. The videos are there”, she alleged.
According to her, young men have fled the community out of fear.
“As I speak with you, all the young men from Amasiri are either in the forest or hiding under overhead bridges in neighbouring communities,” she said.
Idam further alleged discrimination against Amasiri children and students.
“A teacher from my community was told no child of Amasiri should be registered.
“Students from Amasiri in Ebonyi State University are allegedly denied access to classes once their origin is identified,” she claimed.
Responding to questions from journalists, she defended her decision to speak alone at the briefing.
She promised to provide video evidence of some of the alleged statements and incidents.
“I am addressing this press conference as a proud daughter of Amasiri community.
“My people are involved, and I have every right to speak.”
“I will get the video clips. I will share them,” she said.
On arrests, Idam alleged that more than 30 youths had been detained.
“More than 30 youths from Amasiri were arrested by the army.
“They were doing random arrests, which is why others fled,” she said.
She denied knowledge of any arrests related to the killings of the four elders and said casualty figures from alleged attacks on Amasiri people were difficult to quantify.
“The numbers are many. I can’t give a specific figure,” she said.
She concluded with a list of demands, including the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from Amasiri, reinstatement of allegedly disbanded appointees, release of detained traditional rulers and officials, reopening of schools, and an end to what she described as witch-hunting of Amasiri people.
“Even if you put a gun to my head, I am a free and proud daughter of Amasiri, and I must speak up.
“Amasiri people are not bad people. We are not wicked people. We deserve justice,” she said.
…as APC figures and state leaders rally behind with nomination forms
By Gloria Ikibah
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has received an early political lift in the build-up to the 2027 general elections, following a show of support from prominent figures within the All Progressives Congress and other political stakeholders in Rivers State.
A group of party leaders and elders moved to secure and present the governor’s nomination and expression of interest forms, signalling a broad-based endorsement that cuts across party lines.
The delegation, was led by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, indicated that the decision was reached after consultations among influential voices across the state. The move, they suggested, reflects what they see as the wider interest of Rivers people rather than narrow political considerations.
Those behind the initiative also framed the development as consistent with Nigeria’s political traditions, where stakeholders often mobilise support for candidates they believe should continue in office.
“This is not new. Even at the national level, stakeholders have, in the past, procured nomination forms for preferred candidates. It is a democratic tradition rooted in collective will,” he said.
Hon. Abiante said the move reflects widespread confidence in Governor Fubara’s leadership, stressing that it was shaped by public opinion rather than individual ambition or financial strength.
“It is not about how deep your pocket is.
“It is about what the people feel. And the people of Rivers State have made their position clear—they want continuity,” he said.
He also drew attention to what he described as the governor’s record in office, citing ongoing infrastructure development, expanded access to underserved communities and growing economic prospects, particularly across riverine areas.
“In places like Andoni, access was a long-standing challenge. Within months, that narrative changed.
“Communities once cut off are now connected and positioned to contribute meaningfully to the blue economy,” he added.
The lawmaker also cited the rehabilitation of key public infrastructure, including the State Secretariat, and improvements in citizens’ welfare as evidence of purposeful governance.
Beyond projects, Abiante stressed governor Fubara’s leadership style and described him as humble, people-oriented, and deeply attuned to the needs of ordinary citizens.
“This is a leader who understands the pains of his people and responds with action,” he noted.
The lawmaker further revealed that Governor Fubara neither initiated nor influenced the move, insisting it was a spontaneous decision by stakeholders determined to sustain the current trajectory.
“He did not send us. This is the voice of the people speaking through their leaders. We have come on their behalf,” Abiante stated.
According to him, the message from across the state is unequivocal: the governor must heed the call to seek re-election.
“The people have contributed their resources to make this happen. He cannot turn his back on them. Rivers people are firmly behind him,” he declared.
With the nomination forms already obtained, the group is preparing to hand them over to the governor on Friday, 1 May 2026.
The planned presentation is likely to sharpen the emerging political dynamics in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, placing Siminalayi Fubara squarely at the heart of the developing race.
Electricity supply in Lagos has been significantly disrupted following a major shutdown at the Egbin Power Station and a simultaneous fault on a key transmission route feeding the state, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the operator warned that the combined incidents could lead to prolonged power shortages across Lagos, Nigeria’s largest electricity consumption hub.
The disruption reportedly began late on April 28 when Egbin Power Station experienced a critical operational failure that forced an immediate halt in generation. Power output dropped sharply from about 641 megawatts to zero within a short period.
The system operator explained that the plant’s shutdown was triggered by a failure involving its central compressor unit, alongside a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, necessitating a full safety shutdown of all generating units.
The statement noted: “The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the general public of a significant reduction in power generation currently affecting electricity supply across the country, particularly within the Lagos region.
“Egbin Power Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant on the national grid and a major contributor to daily power supply in Nigeria, experienced a major operational disturbance.
“At approximately 8:21 p.m. on April 28, 2026, Egbin Power Station recorded a total loss of generation, dropping from about 641MW to zero output.
“This incident was caused by the failure of the plant’s central compressor, in addition to a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, which necessitated an immediate shutdown of all generating units to safeguard the facility.”
The agency also noted that the disruption has been compounded by an unrelated fault on the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, a critical corridor responsible for evacuating electricity into Lagos.
According to the operator, the transmission failure has further limited the volume of power that can be delivered into the Lagos electricity network, worsening the supply shortfall.
“Power supply to the Lagos region is currently further restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, thereby limiting the evacuation of available generation into the Lagos load centre,” the statement added.
With both generation and transmission constraints in place, system operators have begun implementing load-shedding measures to maintain grid stability and avoid a wider system collapse.
Emergency interventions currently underway include redistribution of available power across distribution companies, with priority given to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, security installations and essential services. Operators are also working to optimise output from other generation plants to cushion the impact on consumers.
“Consequently, this loss of generation has created a significant supply shortfall, necessitating immediate load-shedding measures to maintain grid stability and prevent a wider system disturbance.
“System operators have since deployed contingency measures, including the reallocation of available load across distribution companies, with priority given to critical national infrastructure.
“In addition, efforts are ongoing to optimise generation from other available power plants to mitigate the impact of this development on electricity consumers.”
The operator expressed regret over the disruption, particularly its impact on residents of Lagos and surrounding areas, and assured that restoration efforts are ongoing in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“We acknowledge the inconvenience this situation has caused electricity consumers, especially within Lagos and surrounding areas, and we assure the public that all relevant stakeholders are working closely to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
The Egbin Power Station, located in Ikorodu, is the largest thermal power facility connected to Nigeria’s national grid, with an installed capacity of over 1,300 megawatts.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s high-level engagement with Plateau stakeholders in Abuja has begun to yield tangible gains, with fresh commitments on security, relief funding, and, most significantly, a historic political reconciliation among the state’s leadership.
At the heart of the breakthrough was the unprecedented convergence of all living former governors of Plateau State under one roof for the first time, an outcome Governor Caleb Mutfwang described as a major step toward lasting peace in the crisis-prone state.
The meeting, which stretched into the evening at the Presidential Villa, brought together a powerful delegation including former governors Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, and Fidelis Tapgun, alongside traditional rulers and key political figures.
Beyond the symbolism of unity, the Abuja trip delivered concrete outcomes, including President Tinubu’s approval of N2 billion relief support for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.
The President also took a firm stance on security, vowing to deploy the full weight of federal authority against individuals identified as sponsors or instigators of violence in the state.
“If you identify and you know the name of troublemakers… we will use the instrument of office to deal with them,” Tinubu told the delegation, while charging Plateau leaders to take ownership of the peace process.
A major institutional gain from the meeting was the endorsement of a new peace committee comprising former governors, effectively placing them at the centre of reconciliation efforts. The President directed the committee to review past reports, harmonise recommendations, and drive implementation of sustainable peace strategies.
In what could signal long-term structural reform, Tinubu also renewed his push for the establishment of state police, describing it as critical to addressing Plateau’s unique security challenges.
Governor Mutfwang, reflecting on the outcomes, said the Abuja engagement had helped depoliticise key issues and foster a renewed spirit of unity among Plateau leaders.
“The coming together of the former governors has never happened before. This is the first time it is happening, and I believe that is a step we can build upon,” he said, adding that the state was now better positioned to “rise above all divides of religion and ethnicity.”
Remarkably, the President also directed inclusive governance measures, urging the state to integrate non-indigenes more fully into its political and administrative structure as part of confidence-building efforts.
Traditional rulers at the meeting, including the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, pressed for enhanced security deployment, technological surveillance, and the urgent resettlement of displaced persons—issues the Federal Government signalled readiness to support.
For many observers, the Abuja meeting marked more than a routine consultation—it represented a strategic reset, combining political unity, financial intervention, and a clearer security roadmap, all anchored on a rare consensus among Plateau’s past and present leaders.
Governor Fubara Gains Cross-party Backing Ahead of 2027 Guber Race
Blackout looms in Lagos as Egbin power station shuts down
Plateau Leaders Unite In Abuja As Tinubu Approves N2bn Relief
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