By Our correspondent
Community leaders in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, have raised alarm over the reign of terror unleashed by gunmen, who not only kill and destroy but also extort grieving families by demanding levies before burials can take place.
The concern was raised on Thursday at the relaunch of Amnesty International’s report on extrajudicial killings in the South-East, held in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Speaking virtually at the event, the Palace Secretary of Lilu, Dr. Dominic Okoli, said that between 2020 and 2025, no fewer than 25 people were killed by gunmen in the community, while over 30 houses were destroyed and looted.
He explained that the once-peaceful agrarian town had been reduced to a shadow of itself.
“Lilu has minimal government presence and is only noticed during election periods. Our forests have become hideouts for the gunmen. Between 2020 and 2025, more than 25 people were killed or kidnapped, and over 30 houses were destroyed and looted. Till today, not a single person has been held accountable,” he lamented.
Okoli added that the gunmen had cut the community off from health facilities and education, while children had been forced out of school due to prolonged closure.
“We don’t have access to health centres—the few we had were destroyed. Proportionally, Lilu has the highest number of out-of-school children in the South-East, because our schools have been shut down since 2020.
“We can’t even bury our dead. Before you do so, you must obtain permission from the gunmen by paying them. This money is not for a funeral, because funerals have been banned altogether.”
He further noted that the overwhelming presence of armed groups had earned Lilu the grim description as “the Sambisa of the South-East.”
In his remarks, Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the scale of unlawful killings in the South-East remained unquantifiable and called on the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute all perpetrators of violence.
When contacted for a response, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, had yet to reply to inquiries about the alleged burial levies as of press time( According to Punch).
Killings in the state have continued to worry residents and stakeholders. Between July and August 2025, no fewer than 12 people were killed in separate gunmen attacks across different Anambra communities.
In another incident, three siblings were abducted in Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area. The boy was later killed after allegedly refusing an order from his abductors to assault his sisters.
