Youths from the troubled Lilu community, in Ihiala Council of Anambra State, have again sent a desperate Save Our Soul (SOS) distress call to the State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, over the heightened insecurity and killings in the community.
The latest call, according to a group under the aegis of the Concerned Youth Organization of Lilu, was due to the abductions and killing of the natives, as well as unbridled arson that has now become a daily occurrence in parts of the community.
Speaking to journalists who braved the odds to visit the community on a 5-day tour, the spokesperson for the Concerned Youth Organization of Lilu, who gave his name simply as Emeka due to security reasons, noted that no effort would be spared to get the full attention of the State and Federal governments.
Flanked by some other young concerned natives in front of the remains of the St Andrew’s Anglican Church, which bore glaring marks of the carnage of the hoodlums’ attack of early last month, the youths urged Governor Soludo to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Lilu immediately.
The spokesperson insisted that it is only such a declaration that would see to the flushing out of the hoodlums and restoration of sanity in the area.
He called for decentralization of the “One Youth, 2 Skills” program of the State Government so as to benefit more participants.
This, according to Emeka, was because there were so many idle, jobless, uneducated and unskilled youth in and around the community.
Emeka noted that “they feel timid, reluctant, and ashamed to travel the long distance to Awka to inquire or register for any program no matter how beneficial.
According to him, “it won’t be surprising to petition the National Assembly, the United Nations, European Union, President Donald Trump, Ohaneze Ndigbo and ASATU, since it’s now very obvious that the Anambra State government has no interest in our predicament.”
The youth body expressed frustration over the situation where nearly 70% of Lilu community, including Umuezeala, Eziorsu, Umuodochi, Uhualabor, and Enugwu-ezenduru villages, amongst others, would be terrorized by less than 25 hoodlums.
“They merely use guerrilla tactics of jumping in and operating, and in a flash second disappear back into the bushes of Lilu-Orsuihite-ukwa community of Imo State,” he narrated.
The Concerned Youth Organization believed that a sustained two-hour engagement (which is presently lacking) against the hoodlums would root out and eliminate the hoodlums.
“After all Lilu is a very small community of less than seven kilometers in length and breadth.
“Uhuala-abor village is where the latest victim, Mr Chinese Nwaka was kidnapped and hacked down in pieces with an axe in the presence of his aged parents in front of their gate.
“Sadly, the community is still taking inventory of the latest attack of New Year’s Eve,” he said.
Reports indicated that because of absence of any resistance, the hoodlums have now preferred taking captive.
Shocking also was their revelation that the only security group that makesan impact remains the one recently established by the Lilu Youth through self-help efforts.
However, it was observed that Forward Operating Base, FOB led by the Nigerian army is located permanently at the premises of the Catholic Church alongside one Armoured Personel Carrier and two mounted gun trucks. Also, the State government’s Udo Gachi used to stay in the premises of the St Andrew’s Anglican Church, suspected reason for the attack.
The appeal by the youths is coming nearly one month after they protested to Gov Soludo’s office, where the Secretary to the State government, Chief Solo Chukwulobelu urged them to embark on prayers.
Despite the occurrence of two more attacks that cost lives and many abducted, no information has come from the governor.
The youths are saying that the alleged statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Tochukwu Ikenga, that investigation into the insurgency in Lilu was untrue.
