DSS help Police track, arrest coordinator, 2 traditional rulers over beheading of 4 in Ebonyi

The Department of State Services (DSS) has helped the Ebonyi State Police Command track and arrest the Coordinator, Amasiri Development Centre, Afikpo, Mr Anya Baron-Ogbonnia, and two traditional rulers ,in connection with the recent beheading of four persons in Edda Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

SP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abakaliki.

Ukandu said that the arrest followed a joint operation involving the DSS, Army, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He said that two traditional rulers, Onyaidam Bassey and Godfrey Oko-Obia from Amasiri in Afikpo council area were also arrested.

The police spokesperson told NAN that 10 people were earlier arrested in connection with the incident.

There has been a long standing land dispute between the people of Okporojor in Oso Edda community in Edda and their Amasiri neighbours in Afikpo LGA.

Suspected warlords from Amasiri community had on Jan 29, 2026, attacked Okporojor village and beheaded four persons, burnt houses and destroyed other valuable property.

“Yes, on the Thursday attack, the update is that the coordinator of Amasiri, two traditional rulers from Amasiri and other individuals were arrested by a joint operation of the security agencies in the state.

“Those arrested are all in our custody and investigations on the killings are still ongoing.

“The command and other security personnel will not relent until all those involved are brought to justice,” the PPRO said.