Schools re-open in Ebonyi’s community after four-month curfew

…Students count losses

Primary and Secondary Schools in Amasiri Community, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have finally re-opened after a four-month curfew imposed by the State Government following the deadly communal crisis involving Amasiri, Akpoha and Okprojo Oso Edda Communities in Afikpo and Edda Council Areas.

The violent conflict, which claimed several lives, including the beheading of four persons, forced the Ebonyi State Government to shut down activities in the area and impose a curfew on January 31, 2026.

The restriction was, however, lifted last Tuesday after a State Security Council meeting presided over by Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi State Governor at the Government House, Abakaliki. Top security chiefs in the State also attended the meeting.

A visit to the Community on Monday showed a gradual return to academic activities, with a few students and teachers seen in some schools despite low attendance.

At Ekumaubaghala Memorial Secondary School, students narrated the hardship they endured during the lockdown, lamenting the academic setback and emotional trauma caused by the crisis.

Idam Ugochi, an SS3 student of the school, said the curfew disrupted preparations for her senior school certificate , WAEC examinations and subjected students to untold suffering.

“We suffered seriously during the lockdown. There was hunger everywhere and we had to trek long distances to Ehugbo every day under the hot sun just to write our WAEC examinations,” she said.

Though she expressed joy over the re-opening of schools, she appealed to the government to release those arrested and detained over the crisis, insisting that many families and businesses in the Community remained affected.

“My uncle is among those in prison custody and his detention is affecting my grandmother badly. Government should release those still detained so that normal life can fully return to Amasiri,” she appealed.

Another student of the school, Okpara Daniel, lamented that students lost valuable academic time during the curfew.

“Our schools were completely shut and we stopped learning. Many of us could not register for Junior NECO on time and we already missed three weeks of the third term before the curfew was lifted,” he said.

He, however, expressed happiness that schools had resumed before the entire academic term was lost.

Okpara Agatha the Junior Principal of the school, disclosed that the school lost almost two academic terms due to the prolonged lockdown.

“We lost second term completely and have already missed weeks in this third term. Our major concern now is ensuring the students register and sit for Junior NECO,” she said.

She added that the community suffered heavy losses during the crisis, including lives and businesses.

At Amasiri Central School, only four pupils from the same family Enyiukpo Uchenna, Enyiukpo Chinonso, Enyiukpo Chimaobi and Enyiukpo Michael were present when reporters visited.

Enyiukpo Uchenna, one of the pupils, lamented the absence of both teachers and fellow pupils, noting that many families were yet to return to the community after fleeing during the crisis.

“We are only four pupils in the school now. Many children are still outside the community with their parents and most teachers have not returned,” he said.

According to him, pupils missed both first and second term examinations and had already lost weeks in the current term before schools reopened.

“We want our teachers and classmates to return because we have missed a lot in our studies,” he added.