By Nwamulunamma Ogbunka, Abuja
The Amasiri communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, have denied allegations that of planning attacks on Nigerian soldiers and are involved in criminal conspiracies. The communities made this known in a statement on Tuesday signed by Hon. Amadi Maduka, former Deputy President General, Amasiri Town Union, in response to a publication by a group christened as Edda Media Practitioners.
The statement described the allegations as false, malicious, and deliberately crafted to mislead the public, inflame tensions, and portray the Amasiri communities in a negative light. The communities emphasized that they are peaceful, quiet, and orderly, and have consistently maintained restraint despite immense provocation and hardship.
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The Amasiri communities are renowned for producing highly celebrated professionals who have excelled in their various endeavors across the world. The statement noted that the communities have neither contemplated, planned, nor initiated any attack against the Nigerian Army or any other security agency, notwithstanding what they consider as the unlawful presence of security forces within their communities.
Furthermore, the Amasiri people would not, under any circumstances, contemplate or execute any attack against any of their sister communities, irrespective of provocation. Peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and adherence to lawful conduct remain enduring and foundational values of the community.
The communities insisted that security operatives conduct a thorough forensic examination to determine the individual(s) responsible for the voice note, or to establish whether it is a product of artificial intelligence, deliberately generated to create confusion and sow discord by mischief-makers.
The Amasiri communities are already burdened by significant distress and displacement, and strongly condemn the circulation of unverified audio recordings, fabricated narratives, and speculative reporting deliberately designed to further tarnish the already strained reputation of the Amasiri communities and to incite unnecessary panic.
The statement urged the public to treat such materials with caution and to rely solely on verified information from credible security authorities. It also emphasized that security operatives should remain vigilant against malicious individuals or neighboring actors who might seek to exploit the vulnerable situation to stage attacks, thereby provoking further unwarranted offensives against the Amasiri communities.
The communities believe that the wave of media propaganda appears to be mischievously propagated by individuals who stand to benefit from what many perceive as a sentimental and vindictive approach adopted against the Amasiri communities.
The statement noted that such orchestrated narratives do not advance peace or justice, but rather risk deepening division, legitimizing hardship, and sustaining a climate of hostility against an already distressed population.
Amasiri remains committed to peace, dialogue, and lawful engagement, and calls on all stakeholders to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to prioritize unity, justice, and peaceful coexistence.
The communities stand firmly by the truth: Amasiri knows nothing about any plan to attack soldiers, and will never be part of it.
The statement concluded by emphasizing the communities’ commitment to peace and their expectation that the authorities will investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators of the malicious allegations to justice.
The Amasiri communities are seeking the support of all well-meaning Nigerians to help them resolve the current crisis and promote peace and stability in the region.
