Fresh allegations of security force brutality have ignited national concern in southeastern Nigeria, where civil society groups warn that a government-backed military operation meant to restore order may instead be plunging an entire community into fear, displacement, and economic ruin.
The coalition, Advocates for Good Governance, has accused security operatives deployed to Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State of carrying out what it described as “state-sponsored terror” following a communal conflict that prompted the January 30, 2026, deployment.
In a strongly worded statement released Saturday, the group alleged that troops abandoned their peacekeeping mandate and engaged in extrajudicial killings, arson, and widespread destruction of livelihoods — claims that, if verified, could intensify scrutiny of Nigeria’s approach to internal security operations.
“The Amasiri community has witnessed a descent into state-sponsored terror,” the statement read. “Women, children, and the elderly — many now displaced in the bushes — face a campaign of intimidation and violence that borders on collective punishment.”
From Protection to Fear
Residents reportedly welcomed the arrival of security forces after violence linked to the communal dispute rattled the area. But according to the petition signed by the group’s leader, Onyedika Agbo, that initial sense of relief quickly evaporated.
“The ‘shield’ promised by the government has become a ‘sword,’” the statement said.
Central to the allegations is the imposition of a 20-hour curfew, described by advocates as draconian. Under its cover, operatives allegedly burned homes and destroyed farm produce worth hundreds of millions of naira, raising fears of an impending food crisis in a largely agrarian community.
The restrictions have also reportedly cut off access to urgent medical care for the sick and elderly, compounding what activists say is a rapidly escalating humanitarian emergency.
Protest Met With Gunfire
The group further claimed that women who staged peaceful protests were met with force, including gunfire that allegedly resulted in civilian casualties.
“The primary objective of security forces should be to maintain stability,” the advocates said. “Instead, the people are witnessing the destruction of livelihoods and the shooting of peaceful protesters. When the hands meant to shield us become the swords that pierce us, the social contract is fundamentally broken.”
The Ebonyi State Government and security agencies had not publicly responded to the allegations as of press time.
Governor’s Silence Questioned
Advocates directed sharp criticism at Governor Francis Nwifuru, accusing his administration of failing to intervene as the crisis intensified.
“The silence from the government while Amasiri bleeds is not golden — it is a tacit connivance in the suffering of its own citizens,” the group charged.
They are demanding an immediate investigation by both the governor and the National Human Rights Commission, humanitarian access for displaced residents, and either the withdrawal of the joint task force or a complete overhaul of its operational guidelines to prioritize civilian safety.
The coalition also urged the international community and media to pay attention to what it called “indiscriminate force” applied over the past 72 hours.
Lawyer Urges De-Escalation
Adding to the growing calls for restraint, Abuja-based lawyer M. O. Idam issued a public appeal urging the state government to de-escalate the military operation in the interest of innocent lives.
While condemning the gruesome killings that reportedly triggered the security deployment — including viral footage of victims allegedly decapitated — Idam stressed that justice must remain targeted and lawful.
“Innocent individuals and entire communities must never suffer for crimes they did not commit,” he wrote.
He described the killings as “horrific and inhumane,” insisting that perpetrators be swiftly identified and prosecuted. However, he warned against retaliatory actions that risk punishing civilians.
“The weight of state authority has been felt; it is now time to allow calm, justice, and due process to prevail,” Idam said.
A Familiar Security Dilemma
The unfolding situation reflects a broader challenge confronting Nigerian authorities: how to respond decisively to violent crimes without triggering accusations of collective punishment or human rights violations.
Security deployments across the country have increasingly drawn criticism from advocacy groups, who argue that heavy-handed tactics can deepen distrust between communities and the state — sometimes fuelling the very instability they are meant to quell.
For Amasiri residents now reportedly hiding in surrounding bushes, the immediate concern is survival.
For the government, the stakes may be even higher: restoring confidence that the machinery of state power protects rather than terrorises the citizens it is sworn to defend.
Whether the operation ultimately brings peace or leaves deeper scars may depend on how swiftly authorities address the mounting allegations — and whether accountability follows.
