• Traditional ruler flees as palace gets razed, hundreds killed; another monarch missing since 2021
• Saturday Sun reporter held hostage for hours
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Despite the relentless efforts of the Anambra State government and security agencies in the state to rid of criminal elements, some communities in the state are still under siege and bears the brunt of criminals and activities of criminal elements who have made life miserable for the people.
Before the coming on board of the Soludo administration on March 17, 2022, seven local governments in Anambra South zone and one local government in Anambra North were under the siege of gunmen who unleashed a reign of terror on the residents, killing, maiming and kidnapping people. The affected councils were Aguata, Ekwusigo, Ihiala, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Orumba North and Orumba South. Ogbaru LGA that was also affected is in Anambra North.
By the time Soludo marked his second year in office on March 17, 2024, seven of the eight local governments have been liberated from the shackles of insecurity leaving out Ihiala local government and one community in Ogbaru local government.
The Soludo administration on January 19, 2025 launched a special security intervention force codenamed “Operation Udo Ga Achi” with the accompanying Agunechemba squad which have routed many criminal entities and stemmed the tide of kidnapping activities in the state.
But while there are cheers in the recent breakthroughs recorded in crime fighting in the state, there are still some communities who are suffering in silence, whose lives are in shambles owing to insecurity and ravaging crisis.
A recent visit by this reporter to Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government area and Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru LGA revealed this part of the local government where life is “nasty, brutish and short”. People of the two communities are living in hell, literally, as many have been forced to flee their community for safety while others live like refugees gnashing their teeth in sorrow and pain.
Lilu, a community under siege
A once-vibrant community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Lilu has been reduced to a ghost town, its streets echoing with the silence of fear and desolation. Since 2020, gunmen claiming to be secessionists have unleashed a reign of terror on this border town between Anambra and Imo State, leaving a trail of death, destruction and displacement.
Saturday Sun gathered that the situation in the community started from recruiting some youths from the community into different camps set up by the gunmen in the bush within the community. Some of the youths were enticed with promises of getting monthly payments from Biafra government which they were told would take off soon before they were indoctrinated to take charge and run the show in the community. Anyone who disagreed with them or failed to accede to their request for monetary settlements becomes a target for killing or kidnapping.
An indigene of the community, Christian Ozokwelu who spoke to the reporter in Onitsha disclosed that since 2021, he had not set foot on the community.
“This people came and pretended to be our ‘saviour’, the locals in the community hailed them then with sweet names like ‘umu oma’ before they now turned into tigers to consume us. “Killings and maiming became too much before leading to arson, burning and looting and we all had to run for our lives. The non-state actors are the ones in charge of our beloved community Lilu now. Everything is in ruins in our place now. We are scattered abroad and can’t return home like the children of Israel exiled in Babylon” he lamented
Traditional Ruler runs for life into exile, others flee
Among the major casualties in the situation at Lilu community is the traditional ruler, Igwe Godson Onyediri. A private attorney based in Houston, USA, Onyediri left his comfort zone and answered the call of his people to be elected traditional ruler in September 2018, 34 years after the demise of their last traditional ruler, late Igwe Felix Olikagu.
Igwe Onyediri spent barely three years on the throne when the non-state actors overran the community, leading to the burning of his palace in 2024. Before the incident, the traditional ruler had already fled for safety and has remained in exile since then.
Narrating the situation to our reporter, the palace secretary, Chief Osita Okoli said that apart from Igwe Onyediri, notable residents have remained in exile for years now while those who wanted to resist the situation have been killed.
“The traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Godson Onyediri, along with many notable residents, remains in exile, our homes and heritage reduced to ashes. Despite earlier claims of liberation, Lilu is still a town under siege.
“The scale of devastation is staggering. The palace of Igwe Onyediri, a symbol of cultural pride, lies in ruins, alongside his residence, security post, and Obi. The homes of prominent figures like Chief Chidi Nwanoneze, Chief Christian Awugosi, and High Chief Ifeanyi Ozodimbu have been looted or razed. Community infrastructure, including the Akwalilu and Umuodochi village halls, high-tension cables, and all transformers in Lilu, have been systematically destroyed or looted to their last metal.
“Essential communication networks, including Airtel and MTN/9Mobile masts, have been demolished, isolating the town further. Over 20 homes and businesses, including Mr Olikagu’s shopping mall and Chief James Ezeiheukwu’s house, have been burnt or vandalised, stripping Lilu of its economic and social fabric.”
He also gave a graphic picture of killings in the community thus: “The human toll is even more heartbreaking. At least 27 lives have been lost to this senseless violence, each name a wound in the heart of the community. Nze Nicholas Olikagu, Chinyere Ann Nwanoneze, Kingsley Okeke, Ada Ginger, and young Chigozie, son of Cornelius, among others. These were not just names but fathers, mothers, siblings, and neighbours – pillars of a community now shattered by grief. Families mourn, displaced residents languish in exile, and those who remain live in constant fear, and their livelihoods destroyed, their futures uncertain,” he lamented.
Reporter held hostage for 3 hours
Desirous of getting firsthand information on the true situation at Lilu community, the reporter set out on Tuesday 17th June, 2025 to visit the community. Though enquiries made earlier revealed that the community was still not safe, the overwhelming journalism instinct pushed one to go. Disguising in a plain trouser and a short sleeve shirt like that of a Catholic priest, the reporter got to Total Filling Station Junction at Ihiala Expressway and sought a commercial motorcycle to Lilu. About six cyclists approached declined, until one of them agreed to ferry the reporter for N8, 000, a journey that ordinarily costs N2, 000. The journey proceeded smoothly through Ubulusizor Osumorghu to Lilu via Mbosi community
Getting to Nkwo Lilu, the community market square, the whole place was deserted with overgrown bushes covering most stalls. Various residential buildings were also in ruins while there was drop dead silence along the roads.
The reporter and his bike man encountered an armoured personnel carrier mounted by some soldiers close to the market square. At this point, the reporter’s heart started beating very fast out of sheer trepidation. Not quite far from the area, gunshot sounds rent the air. The motorbike rider was told to beat a retreat, as proceeding further became unappealing.
While trying to get out of the community, the pair – reporter and motorbike operator – were accosted by five fierce looking men wielding guns and machetes with masked faces. They fired several questions in quick succession, enquiring to know the reporter’s mission in the community. His saving grace was that his phone had been dropped in the car before the bike ride, and there was nothing identifying him as a reporter. He said he was a missionary posted to Ihiala newly and had come to get firsthand information on how to reach people of the community with the gospel and humanitarian aids. The okada man confirmed to them that the reporter was picked at Ihiala junction and that he had introduced himself as a priest. One of them hopped on the bike and told the rider to follow them. They took the two to another secluded part of the community and said they had to monitor the reporter very well. They also told him to call his people, but he reminded them that he had no phone on him. After over two hours, they collected the little cash on him. They ordered them to leave immediately and never come back.
Lilu will rise again says youth leader, Ezeifedi
On phone, the reporter had an encounter with the youth leader of Lilu community, Chinedu Ezeifedi who spoke from his hideout. He expressed hope that despite all the challenges faced by the people of the community presently, they will rise from the ashes of destruction and return home to their beloved community one day.
“You took a big risk to venture there. If anything worse had happened to you, they will just count you among the statistics of those who have fallen by the wayside,” he told the reporter.
“You might have seen one video on social media where one man with beards and long gown was telling everybody that Lilu is now safe and people should come back home. These gunmen terrorising our place butchered the man and paraded his severed head on video. You also read some time ago the report that troops have cleared the insurgents terrorising our place but I can tell you that it is the more you look, the less you see.
“The palace Secretary to Igwe Onyediri refuted the claims of liberation, and stated it clearly that Lilu remains under the grip of non-state actors. We are working out something on our own efforts now and we believe that soon, we can return home. The people of Lilu are not just statistics; they are Nigerians crying out for their right to safety, dignity, and a place to call home. The destruction of our homes, the murder of our loved ones, and the desecration of our cultural heritage are all calls to action that cannot be ignored”.
“The Anambra State government, security agencies, and all stakeholders should act swiftly to restore peace and rebuild this broken community. The Agunechemba Security Squad must rise to the occasion, not just in rhetoric but in decisive action, to liberate Lilu from the clutches of terror” he stated.
At Ogwuaniocha, it’s been wailing and gnashing of teeth since 2021
Last week, the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo approved the sum of N15m for the mass burial of 43 indigenes of Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru LGA who lost their lives during the internal crisis that rocked the community in November 2021.
People of Ogwuaniocha, a rustic community in Ogbaru, used to live in peace while bemoaning the lack of government presence in the area as they lacked basic amenities of life like clean water supply, good roads, health facilities and electricity.
They had managed their situation quietly until oil was discovered in large quantities in the community and a Chinese company came into the place for oil exploration. That was when naked ambition, greed and inordinate quest for power reared their heads in the community.
Their traditional ruler, Igwe Oliver Nnaji, who was instrumental to the arrival of the oil exploration company into the community, suddenly faced strong opposition from his half-brother, Nwajeli Nnaji.
According to Chukwudi Ngoddy, a former councillor at Ogwuaniocha, Nwajeli instigated some youths to fight Igwe Oliver Nnaji and also allegedly induced some elders who also crowned him (Nwajeli) Igwe and paid allegiance to him,
“It was out of naked ambition that Nwajeli created a situation where the community had two traditional rulers at a time. It did not take long before Nwajeli died, but one of his boys, one Chukwudi Ogana, took things up from where he stopped.
“Ogana is a native doctor who made some money through his practice. He became desperate to grab power and started fighting Igwe Oliver Nnaji over the proceeds of royalties from the oil exploration company. It was in the course of the power play that he (Ogana) invited members of the Lion squad, a notorious gunmen group masquerading as Biafra agitators. He promised the gunmen payment of N1million naira monthly from the expected proceeds of the oil exploration royalties and that was how the boys overran everyone in town. They abducted Igwe Oliver Nnaji on 16th November 2021 after burning down his palace and all his property. The Igwe has not been seen till today while there has been evidence that he was murdered by those boys.
“That was the genesis of the crisis that engulfed our community, as supporters of Igwe Nnaji also fought back, leading to the massacre of many people and destruction of every public structure in Ogwuaniocha.”
The reporter gathered that some people were arrested in connection with the Igwe’s abduction and alleged killing. The court convicted Ogana of murder and is presently serving a 21year jail term. But the devastation caused by the crisis has been quite enormous.
Between November 2021 and now, children don’t go to school in Ogwuaniocha, while majority of the people are on exile, just like Lilu in Ihiala area.
The reporter also made a daring journey to Ogwuaniocha recently. Though normalcy is returning to the area, scars of the past and marks of the present were very much visible. Owing to the dilapidated roads in the area, the reporter took a bike also from Umunnankwo community after Ogbakuba. At a point in the journey, the reporter and the journalist encountered a shuttle bus stuck in the mud, amidst pools of stagnant water. The atmosphere inside the community was apprehensive. Buildings in both the primary and secondary schools were in ruins, while there is no single soul sighted in the community health centre that has overgrown with weeds.
Surprisingly, oil exploration activities were going on unhindered in the community. A battalion of stern-looking soldiers mounted guard within the area, protecting the facilities and workers. Information gathered by the reporter revealed that despite the poor road network in the community, the oil exploration company has its own road network constructed allegedly from the backdoor which they use privately to connect Ndoni in River State while they also have an underground pipe from the area linked to Rivers State for oil drilling purposes
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We have nowhere to return to –Igwe Nnaji’s wife
Wife of the abducted traditional ruler of Ogwuaniocha, Mrs Ngozi Nnaji told Saturday Sun that most people from the community were desirous of returning to the community but have been rendered homeless and have nowhere to lay their heads when they come back.
“The scars of the devastation are very much on us. People are still afraid to come back because remnants of the Lion squad that destroyed our community are still there. Others in our category cannot also come back easily even if security is guaranteed because we lost our houses and all household property. My husband’s palace, residential buildings, three cars and other property were burnt. I submitted all documents and pictorial evidences in court and to the government. We are hopeful that government will act someday because we know that it always takes due process. When this happened in 2021, insecurity and killings have not gone so bad in the country as it is today. But look at what is happening in Benue and other parts of the country. We hope for a new day soon,” she stated.
100 percent peace in Ogwuaniocha a fluke – Ogbaru security chief
When the reporter also spoke to the security commander in Ogbaru, Prince Ignatius Nnaji, he said that until the remnants of the non-state actors are taken out of the area, peace cannot return fully to Ogwuaniocha.
“The gunmen still maintains a camp within that axis. Just last week, they attacked us, wielding prohibited firearms. They were up to 30 in number and we returned fire. In the course of exchange of gunshots, their bullet hit the petrol tank of our patrol van and it got burnt. The Amiyi junction and ogbakuba leading into Ogwuaniocha are still flashpoints which we are hoping to dislodge through the joint security outfit, FOB. We don’t want to hear any unpleasant story again here so anybody coming into the community must be very careful and be security conscious too” he stated.
Many communities in South-East facing existential threat- Criminologist
A criminologist and security studies expert, Nze Emeka Umeagbalasi said that while some communities in Anambra are being singled out for security breakdown, about 350 communities in the five South-East states are facing security threats and forceful occupation either by non-state actors or the Jihadist movement led by Fulani herders. He disclosed that data from a recent research carried out by a civil rights advocacy group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) indicated that Enugu state has 72 locations occupied by the movement, Anambra has 70 while Imo, Abia and Ebonyi have 61, 43 and 36 locations respectively.
“From parts of Nkanu and Eha-Amufu in Enugu State to Ohaji Egbema, Ihube in Imo State, Ohafia, Umunneochi Abia State, Mputu, Obeagwe in Ogbaru Anambra down to Emoha Nkalagu in Ebonyi all bears same trademark of pain and killings. The federal government’s security forces operating in these places appear compromised and that is why nothing concrete can be achieved in terms of sustained security of lives and property,” he lamented.
School closure adversely affects children, communities- Psychologist
A clinical and behavioural psychologist in Anambra State, Prof Martin Obidigbo who spoke to the reporter called on government to ensure that normalcy returns immediately in the troubled communities in the state, most especially as it affects school children who have been shut out of the education system in those troubled communities.
“Our society is already breeding social deviants going by the number of children forced out of school by no fault of theirs or their families but as a result of crisis that has torn their places apart forcing their schools to be shut down. These children are already traumatised by this situation and it adversely affects their psyche and overall mental wellbeing. Some have been forced to relocate while others acquire many social vices because of this displacement. There is a lot of work to do in these areas so as to restore these displaced children” he stated.
Hope for holistic security assured-Anambra info commissioner
Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Chief Law Mefor, when contacted on the development, said government has been working seriously to navigate the situation and ensure that life returns fully in the affected communities.
“The people resident in those communities can attest to the ongoing onslaught against the criminals, details of which cannot be provided here. Going by the successes recorded so far and with the sustainable plans in place, hope is assured that before long, peace and security will be restored wholly in those communities and in every other community in Anambra State. As from this June 2025, Mr. Governor will be giving subvention to all the communities in Anambra State. This is a part of the means of strengthening security in the communities,” Mefor stated.
Security forces have contained dire situations in communities-Police PRO
Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, Ikenga Tochukwu, a Superintendent of Police, when contacted by the reporter said that with the combined strategy of Joint security forces and the support of Anambra State government, there is no serious security scare in Anambra communities presently.
“There is no situation that the security agencies have not contained in Anambra presently. The peace being enjoyed in the state today is as a result of serious collaboration between the security agencies, the government and the people of the state in various communities. The last camp inhabited by the non-state actors destroyed in Umunze was a spill-over of the Lilu issue, among others. The security agents are working round the clock to maintain peace and security but let some people not whip up sentiments in the matter” he stated.