Lilu Killings: Youths Call on Soludo to Declare State of Emergency

A fresh and urgent Save Our Soul (SOS) appeal has once again been directed to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, following the worsening security situation in Lilu Community, located within Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

Concerned youths of the community, operating under the banner of the Concerned Youths Organisation of Lilu, revealed that insecurity in the area has escalated to alarming levels. According to them, incidents of kidnapping, indiscriminate killings of residents, and rampant destruction of properties through arson have become frequent and almost routine, thereby forcing them to speak out publicly.

During an interaction with journalists who visited the community on an on-the-spot assessment, the group’s spokesperson, identified simply as Emeka, explained that the appeal was unavoidable due to the scale of devastation and fear gripping the community. He stated that the youth body is determined to exhaust every legitimate avenue to draw both state and federal government attention to the persistent crisis confronting their people.

Standing alongside fellow youths and community members at the ruins of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, which showed clear evidence of violent attacks allegedly carried out by hoodlums, Emeka described the destruction as a painful reminder of the unchecked insecurity plaguing Lilu. The group passionately urged Governor Soludo to immediately declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the community.

According to Emeka, such an emergency declaration remains the most effective step capable of enabling security agencies to flush out criminal elements and restore peace and normalcy in the affected areas. He maintained that without decisive intervention, the situation may continue to deteriorate.

Beyond security concerns, the youths also appealed to the state government to decentralise the “One Youth, Two Skills” empowerment programme. They argued that bringing the programme closer to grassroots communities like Lilu would allow more young people to participate.

Emeka explained that a significant number of youths within and around Lilu are idle, unemployed, uneducated, and unskilled, making them vulnerable and excluded from empowerment opportunities. He noted that many potential beneficiaries feel shy, discouraged, or uncomfortable travelling the long distance from Lilu to Awka merely to inquire about or register for the programme, regardless of its potential benefits.

Expressing deep frustration, the youth leader warned that the community might be left with no option but to escalate the matter beyond the state government. He stated that petitions could be sent to the National Assembly, the United Nations, the European Union, President Donald Trump, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), stressing that it has become increasingly apparent to them that the Anambra State Government appears to show little urgency or commitment toward resolving their plight.

The Concerned Youths Organisation further lamented that nearly 70 percent of Lilu Community has allegedly fallen under the control of armed men. They specifically mentioned Umuezeala, Eziorsu, Umuodochi, Uhualabor, and Enugwu-Ezenduru villages, among others, as areas severely affected.

The group expressed the belief that a well-coordinated and sustained security operation lasting a few hours would be sufficient to dislodge, overpower, and eliminate the hoodlums occupying their community, if the political will is present.

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