By Chuks Collins
Barely three weeks after anguish and helplessness forced citizens of Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State stormed the Awka Light House to lay complain of the prolonged four years abandonment to insurgents they have cried out again.
They cried out to know “whether we are still part of Anambra State, or have been excised to the neighboring Imo State.
According to the spokesperson who gave his name simply as “Emeka” (for security reasons), since after the visit to the governor’s office where they were received by the Secretary of the State Gorvernment, SSG, Chief Solo Chukwulobelu no action or response has come in any way.
“It was rather heartbreaking to disclose that the gunmen have continued to saunter into Lilu community day and night harassing us as they like.
“Few days ago they came, hacked down Mr Chineze Nwaka with an axe. They also abducted Chief Oliver Umeaku, a palace chief. Many others are still missing and could not be accounted for till now”,
“This incidence the hoodlums said was for our Christmas. The scene was a gory site as Nwaka was dismembered in the presence of his aged parents”.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr Emeka asked, “when would enough be enough for Gov Soludo step in decisively to arrest the situation in Lilu. They wondered why the Anambra State government appear uninterested in rescuing the community.
Taking reporters round, Mr Emeka backed by the youths and the local security recently put together by the community showed the remnants of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Parsonage and charred vehicles belonging to the Rev Cannon Gabriel Obiesie whose wife and children were brutally massacred and burnt. The cleric escaped with severe matchet injuries and bullet wounds. He’s still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospitals.
He also showed the remnant of the charred palace of the traditional ruler, HRH Igwe (Barrister) Godson Onyediri.
The SSG had promised to brief Gov Soludo on their grievances as captured in their numerous placards that he collected.
The reaction sought from the State Commissioner for Information has not come nearly six hours before this report was filed.
Emeka doubted if the governor actually know the location of Lilu in the map of the State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) – Tochukwu Ikenga assured that investigation was ongoing in the Lilu attacks.
But the community spokesman laughed it off as mere playing to the gallery.
According to him, no agent of any Local Government, State or Federal government has ever stepped into the beleaguered community since 2019 when the ugly trend began.
He expressed their readiness to approach anyone for assistance.
