By Christiana Ekpa
Princess Joy Omagha Idam has responded strongly to Hon. Chinedu Ogah over his dismissal of genocide allegations linked to the military invasion of Amasiri, insisting that the suffering of her people cannot be described as “baseless” or “spurious.”
In a detailed statement, Idam said the people of Amasiri have endured grave hardship arising from the handling of the communal crisis under the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
She noted that the loss of lives, displacement, destruction of homes, prolonged curfews, and closure of schools and hospitals represent the lived reality of an entire community.
According to her, the allegation of genocide was not made for political theatrics but is based on observable patterns of actions and inactions that have disproportionately affected Amasiri.
“When security interventions lead to civilian casualties, mass displacement, economic strangulation, and prolonged trauma without transparent accountability, citizens have every right to question governance decisions,” she stated.
Idam called for clarity on investigative panels reportedly set up to address the crisis, asking whether their findings were made public, whether victims were consulted, and whether perpetrators were held accountable irrespective of affiliation.
She also questioned what became of petitions allegedly filed by Amasiri over the years and why measures imposed appeared punitive to one side of the conflict.
Reacting to claims that peace has largely returned, she queried: “Which peace? When over a million people have reportedly fled their homes and residents cannot move freely, can that truly be described as peace?”
She argued that true peace is not merely the absence of open clashes but the presence of justice, restitution, and restored trust in leadership.
While acknowledging scholarship programmes, infrastructure projects, and empowerment initiatives by the state government, Idam maintained that development efforts do not invalidate the grievances of a community that believes it has been unfairly treated.
“Development cannot substitute for justice,” she stressed.
The publisher of Weekenders Magazine urged the government to invite independent observers, civil society organisations, human rights bodies, and the National Boundary Commission to review official maps and documentation relating to the disputed areas.
She outlined key demands of the people of Amasiri to include an independent investigation, public accountability, fair and transparent conflict resolution, restoration of destroyed properties reportedly worth billions, guarantees against disproportionate use of force, and immediate demarcation of disputed areas.
Although acknowledging the relaxation of the curfew, Idam described it as insufficient, noting that schools and hospitals remain closed.
“Security forces, if deployed, should secure educational institutions and healthcare facilities to enable children to return to school and medical services to resume,” she said.
