Residents of Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State staged a protest on Friday over ongoing killings and violent attacks by gunmen, urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to take immediate action.
Men, women and elders marched from Aroma Junction in Awka to the Government House, condemning what they called the mindless killings plaguing their community, including the Sunday, December 7, attack at St. Andrews Anglican Church, where the priest’s wife and another resident were murdered.
Carrying placards with messages such as ‘Enough is enough’, ‘Soludo rescue us’, ‘Lilu is bleeding’, and ‘Over 100 killed by unknown gunmen’, the protesters demanded urgent government intervention. The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, received them on behalf of the governor.
One community representative said the demonstration was meant to draw attention to the deteriorating security situation in Lilu. He explained that the burial of two victims had been halted after reports emerged that two others with severe machete wounds from the church attack had died in hospital.
He said, “The brutal gun attacks in our community began some years ago. In our first ugly experience, 11 kinsmen were killed, and these killings have continued; several houses have been burnt, and the palace of our monarch was razed.
“And in the most recent attack that occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church on Sunday, nine people lost their lives.
“So far, over 20 indigenes have lost their lives in the recent spree of killings in our community. The gunmen took some kinsmen away, saying they were going to sacrifice them to their gods. Anyone who speaks out is usually killed the next day.
“We call on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to our immediate assistance. Every day remains a struggle for the community, as our kinsmen are getting kidnapped, slaughtered, or just disappearing without a trace.”
Another resident said that about 85 per cent of the community had fled to neighbouring towns, adding that no household had been spared from killings or kidnappings. A representative of the traditional ruler described the attacks — including the killing of the priest’s wife and destruction of church property — as sacrilegious and inhumane.
Responding, Prof. Chukwulobelu appealed for calm, assuring the protesters that the governor was aware of their situation and working to restore peace in Lilu and other affected communities. He took their placards and promised to brief Governor Soludo.
An earlier attack on December 7 at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Isiokwe, Lilu, claimed two lives and left parts of the church building in ruins.
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