By Chuks Collins, Awka
Barely three weeks after residents of Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State protested what they described as four years of abandonment to armed insurgents, the community has renewed its appeal to the state government over worsening insecurity.
The residents, who had earlier stormed the Government House in Awka to register their grievances, said they were yet to receive any response or concrete action from the authorities, despite assurances given during their visit.
Speaking on behalf of the community, a spokesperson who identified himself simply as Emeka, for security reasons, questioned whether Lilu still belonged to Anambra State or had been “excised to neighbouring Imo State.”
According to him, the delegation from Lilu was received at the Government House by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Solo Chukwulobelu, who reportedly promised to brief Governor Chukwuma Soludo on their plight.
However, Emeka said no intervention had followed the visit.
“It is heartbreaking that the gunmen continue to saunter into Lilu day and night, harassing residents at will,” he said.
He alleged that only a few days ago, suspected hoodlums attacked the community, hacking one Mr. Chineze Nwaka to death with an axe and abducting Chief Oliver Umeaku, a palace chief.
He added that several other residents were still missing and unaccounted for.
According to Emeka, the attackers reportedly described the assault as a “Christmas gift” to the community. He said the killing of Nwaka was carried out in the presence of the victim’s aged parents, leaving the area in a state of shock and grief.
The community spokesman called on Governor Soludo to intervene decisively, asking when “enough would be enough” for the state government to restore security to Lilu.
He expressed concern over what he described as apparent government indifference to the community’s plight.
While taking journalists around the area, Emeka, accompanied by local youths and a community security group recently set up by residents, pointed to the ruins of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, its parsonage, and burnt vehicles belonging to the church’s vicar, Rev. Canon Gabriel Obiesie.
He said the cleric’s wife and children were brutally killed and burnt during an earlier attack, while the priest himself escaped with severe machete and bullet wounds and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Also shown to reporters were the remains of the palace of the traditional ruler, HRH Igwe (Barr.) Godson Onyediri, which was reportedly razed during the violence.
Emeka said the SSG had collected several placards presented by the community during their protest, assuring them that their complaints would be forwarded to the governor.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Anambra State Commissioner for Information were unsuccessful, as no response had been received as at about six hours before this report was filed.
The community spokesman further expressed doubt over whether the governor was even aware of Lilu’s location within the state.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police were investigating the attacks on the community and assured that efforts were ongoing to address the security situation in the area.
