The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwu Charles Soludo appears unperturbed over the growing carnage in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of the State.
Lilu, a once-vibrant community has been reduced to a ghost town, its streets echoing with the silence of fear and desolation.
Since 2020, gunmen, hiding under the guise of separatist movement, have unleashed a reign of terror on this border town, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and displacement.
The traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Godson Onyediri, along with many notable residents, remains in exile, their homes and heritage reduced to ashes. Despite earlier claims of liberation by the state-backed Agunechemba Security outfit, the reality on the ground paints a grim picture: Lilu is still a town under siege.
The scale of devastation is staggering. The palace of Igwe Onyediri, a symbol of cultural pride, lies in ruins, alongside his residence, security post, and Obi. The homes of prominent figures like Chief Chidi Nwanoneze, Chief Christian Awugosi, and High Chief Ifeanyi Ozodimbu have been looted or razed.
Community infrastructure, including the Akwalilu and Umuodochi village halls, high-tension cables, and all transformers in Lilu, have been systematically destroyed or looted to their last metal.
Essential communication networks, including Airtel and MTN/9Mobile masts, have been demolished, isolating the town further. Over 20 residences and businesses, including Mr. Olikagu’s shopping mall and Chief James Ezeiheukwu’s house, have been burnt or vandalized, stripping Lilu of its economic and social fabric.
The human toll is even more heartbreaking. At least 27 lives have been lost to this senseless violence, each name a wound in the heart of the community: Nze Nicholas Olikagu, Chinyere Ann Nwanoneze, Kingsley Okeke, Ada Ginger, and young Chigozie, son of Cornelius, among others.
These were not just names but fathers, mothers, siblings, and neighbors—pillars of a community now shattered by grief. Families mourn, displaced residents languish in exile, and those who remain live in constant fear, their livelihoods destroyed, their futures uncertain.
The people of Lilu are not just statistics; they are Nigerians crying out for their right to safety, dignity, and a place to call home. The destruction of their homes, the murder of their loved ones, and the desecration of their cultural heritage are a call to action that cannot be ignored.
Investigation revealed that the deadly occupation of Lilu is been orchestrated by criminal bandits, some allegedly linked to IPOB/ESN factions.
Innocent youths are abducted, tortured, and publicly executed—some beheaded—for refusing to cooperate.
Currently, there is no law, no order—only the fight for survival.
According to a concerned Anambra citizen who doesn’t want to be quoted, families have been forced to pay ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 for military escort just to bring the remains of their loved ones into town for burial. Many corpses lie unburied in morgues, as families wait endlessly for safety.
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 as Governor Soludo has failed to show any form of seriousness in addressing the situation.
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.
A call for Governor Soludo to wake up from his slumber.
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo must wake up from his slumber as the chief security officer of the State. His inability to draw a decisive battle-line against these criminals tormenting Lilu community, is another serious indictment on his administration.
Anambra State government, security agencies, and all stakeholders as a matter of urgency, must act immediately to restore peace and rebuild this broken community.
The Agunechemba Security Squad must rise to the occasion, not just in rhetoric but in decisive action, to liberate Lilu from the clutches of terror.
The nation watches, and history will judge. Will Lilu be left to fade into oblivion, or will the government heed this desperate plea and restore hope to a people who have lost so much? The time to act is now. Lilu cannot wait.