Lilu under siege by criminal gangs linked to IPOB/ESN, Anambra indigene cries out

Saya Lilu is dying in silence

A “Concerned Citizen of Anambra State”, writing under condition of anonymity, has cried out over the horrifying living condition in Lilu, saying the town is under siege by criminal gangs.

Lilu, meanwhile, is a town located in Ihiala Local Government in Anambra State, situated nearby to Ukpor locality, as well as Orsumoghu.

The author linked the criminal gangs to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant arm, the Eastern Security network (ESN).

In a ‘heart-breaking letter addressed to “Esteemed Journalists and Human Rights Advocates”, the writer said that “what is happening [in Lilu] is a death sentence”.

He recounted some of the atrocities committed by the criminal gangs to include:

•  Abducted, torture, public execution, and beheading of innocent youths for rejecting their advances or speaking out.
• The sacking of the traditional ruler (Igwe) and burning down of Igwe’s and Olowu palace.
• Destruction of homes and intimidation of prominent families.
• Anarchy and “instant death” to anyone who puts up any form of resistance, etc.

The whistleblower, therefore, asked the media to investigate the situation in Lilu with urgency and integrity.

He also urged them to use their platforms to tell the world what is happening, as “Lilu is dying in silence”.

He further pressured Nigerian authorities to take meaningful and sustained action in Lilu.

The author wants the world to hear the voices of the displaced, grieving and silenced.

The letter from Lilu

The letter from Lilu, made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), reads in full:

I write to you today as a heartbroken and terrified citizen of Anambra State, Nigeria—compelled by desperation, guided by truth, and shielded by anonymity. In Lilu, speaking openly about what is happening is a death sentence.

This is a cry for help—a last attempt to break the silence surrounding the ongoing deadly occupation of Lilu, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Lilu Is Facing a Humanitarian Emergency

For years now, Lilu has been under siege by terror groups and armed criminal gangs, some allegedly linked to IPOB/ESN factions. It is no longer a livable community—it has become a war zone, hiding in plain sight.

Here is our reality:

• Innocent youths are abducted, tortured, and publicly executed—some beheaded—for refusing to cooperate or for simply speaking out.
• Our traditional ruler (Igwe) and his cabinet have fled. The Igwe’s palace and the Olowu palace have been set ablaze and reduced to rubble.
• Prominent families have seen their homes destroyed in calculated acts of intimidation.
• Resistance is met with instant death. There is no law, no order—only the fight for survival.

Even in death, peace is denied. Families must pay ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 for military escort just to bring the remains of loved ones into town for burial. Many corpses lie unburied in morgues, as families wait endlessly for safety.

Lilu is no longer a town. It is a place of fear, fire, and forgotten souls.

An Overwhelmed Military Presence

Military personnel are present but vastly outnumbered. Some are brave, others have retreated. Local vigilantes, too, are under-equipped and constantly threatened.

These terror groups operate from underground bunkers, forests, and occupied homes. Last year, an underground kidnapping camp was discovered where victims were held in chains. But justice has been fleeting, and clean-up efforts have not been sustained.

The Emotional Toll

We mourn not only our dead, but the loss of our right to grieve in Lilu.

Children now grow up knowing the sound of gunfire more than the joy of schooling.

Families are displaced, broken, or wiped out.

Each day brings only dread—wondering who will be taken next, and who will be left to bury them.

Why I Remain Anonymous

I want to speak louder. I want to sign my name.

But in Lilu, to speak is to be killed. Those who have dared to speak out are now dead, missing, or hiding.

So I beg you—please do not dismiss this message because it is unsigned. Let it be heard because it is true.

What We Are Asking

• Investigate the situation in Lilu with urgency and integrity.
• Use your platforms to tell the world what is happening.
• Pressure Nigerian authorities to take meaningful, sustained action.
• Amplify the voices of the displaced, the grieving, the silenced.

Lilu is dying in silence. But silence must not be the end of a people.

Thank you for your time, your courage, and your commitment to truth and justice.” [End]

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