A coalition of journalists under the Edda Media Practitioners has raised alarms over what they describe as an imminent and covert threat against the residents of Oso Edda in Edda Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, allegedly orchestrated by members of the Amasiri clan from Afikpo Local Government Area.
The group’s coordinator, Ikenna Emewu, spoke at a press briefing in Abakaliki on Monday, the 23rd of February, 2026, revealing that over 11 voice notes in the Amasiri dialect, now circulating widely on WhatsApp, suggest plans for another attack on the Edda community. These recordings were reviewed by the media practitioners and are considered credible.
Reports indicate that on the 29th of January, 2026, hoodlums from the Amasiri clan attacked Okporojo village in Idima Edda, killing and beheading at least four individuals, abducting another, and destroying houses and properties worth millions of naira.
The attacks prompted widespread condemnation both locally and internationally. Following the incident, Governor Francis Nwifuru dismissed all political appointees, closed schools, and imposed a curfew in the affected area.
According to Emewu, the Edda community has suffered 14 fatalities and the destruction of over 29 homes since the Amasiri assaults began.
“We first of all want to use this opportunity to appreciate Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State for his efforts in ensuring that peace returns to Oso Edda after his intervention to stave off more bloodshed from the Amasiri attackers.
“We also want to state that we have indisputable evidence that the nine attacks on Oso Edda at three locations between June 2023 and January 2026 were carried out by Amasiri, a neighbouring town to Edda.
We are convinced that the volume of security intelligence at the disposal of the government and security agencies supports our claims.
“This press briefing became necessary as we have collected additional evidence of the collective complicity of Amasiri in masterminding and executing the series of violent attacks on Oso Edda over the years.
“The attacks have cost us 14 lives, resulted in the abduction of two others whose whereabouts are unknown, and led to the burning of over 29 houses, acres of farmland, and other valuables over three years.
“However, the timely, lawful, and dutiful intervention during the last onslaught on January 29, 2026, has brought some relief to our people. That is why we decided to cooperate with the Ebonyi State leadership and not take any unlawful action.
“In the meantime, in addition to supporting the government’s moves and working with the security forces on the ground, we have been diligently monitoring incidents to ensure we are never caught unawares again by Amasiri’s agents of violence.
“Our duty of alertness was activated two days into the curfew when people from Amasiri started circulating false information on social media claiming that two soldiers were killed in Oso Edda to tarnish our image, already marred with the blood of the innocent. But that attempt failed because no such killing occurred.
“To confirm that it was a lie manufactured by the assailants’ propaganda machine, on February 4, the Nigerian Army, through the Commander of the Abakaliki Cantonment, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Chielo, addressed the press to debunk the claim,” he said.
Emewu further noted, “In the past two days, we have received nine recorded voice messages circulating on WhatsApp and spoken in the Amasiri dialect detailing plans to attack Oso Edda again at any time.
“The plans, as contained in these voice clips in our possession, also include an intention to attack Nigerian soldiers stationed at Amasiri on a peace mission.
“On February 10, we made public other messages circulated by them in which two individuals admitted to participating in the past attack on Okporojo.
“This time, the messages reveal a plan to provoke soldiers on the ground at Amasiri into a clash, then escape and lead the soldiers to Oso Edda. When that happens, their men in ambush would attack the soldiers, create a social media narrative that the Edda people killed the soldiers, and provoke the soldiers to retaliate against Edda.
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“The attackers’ strategy is intended to distract the soldiers and provide an opportunity to launch another brutal assault on Edda, with any casualties blamed on the military.
“The plan is not only to attack Edda again but also to lure the Nigerian Army into unprofessionalism and random killings in Oso Edda. Their agenda is to tarnish the reputation of the Nigerian Army, whose operatives have been diligent and orderly in their peace mission in Amasiri since their deployment on January 31.
“They boasted in one of the voice clips that they were spiritually fortified after visiting four towns in Cross River State to obtain protection from gunfire. They claim that as long as they remain on Amasiri soil, they cannot be harmed by soldiers’ gunfire, which is why they aim to confront the soldiers at worst-case scenarios.
“Before this public statement, we had already passed the audio clips to the relevant security agencies and alerted them of impending violence by the Amasiri assailants.
“Given the importance of the media in public awareness, I urge you to disseminate this message widely so the public understands that we are not crying wolf. We hope it will be acted upon.”
Responding on Monday evening, Amasiri indigenes quickly denied the allegations on social media.
According to Kingsley Adams, “Amasiri is not daft. The claim that we are planning an attack is another lie.”
Another resident, Nicholas Azu, added, “What joy do you derive from these lies and deceit? You are happy that the military and governor are allegedly treating us unfairly in your favour.”
Onya Emmanuel commented, “You wrote a lot and claimed to have voicemail and clips as evidence, but in the end we saw no proof. What is happening in Amasiri is bigger than what people see; it’s a political war, not even a land dispute.”