By Ovat Abeng
No fewer than 1,000 indigenes of Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, including men/women and the elderly, on Friday, protested against what they described as the persistent “mindless killings of their kiths and kin by gunmen”.
They protested particularly against the recent killing that occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church, Lilu, where the priest’s wife and one other were allegedly murdered by some yet-to-be-identified assailants.
The protesters marched with tears and lamentations from the popular Aroma Junction in Awka from there to the new Government House otherwise called “Light House”.
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They carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Enough is enough”, “Soludo rescue us”, “Lilu is on the verge of extinction,” “Is Lilu actually in Anambra State”, “Over 100 people killed in the hands of unknown gunmen, insecurity”, “Our old parents have remained refugees”, “Lilu is not safe, Lilu is bleeding”, among others.
The protesters were received at the Government House by the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who represented the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Speaking to SSG on behalf of the protesters, one of their spokespersons, who identified himself simply as Mr Emeka, said they embarked on the peaceful protest with the aim of drawing the attention of the state government to their plights as well as bringing to an end the activities of gunmen in Lilu.
Emeka said for security reasons, they had to abandon the burial of two of their kinsmen halfway when news got to them that two others who sustained severe matchet cuts in last Sunday’s attack have died where they were receiving treatment.
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, the palace of our monarch was razed.
“And in the most recent attack that occurred at the St. Andrews Anglican Church on Sunday, nine persons 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, everyday remains a struggle for the community, as our kinsmen are get kidnapped, slaughtered or just disappeared without trace.”
He bemoaned a situation where about eighty-five per cent of the whole community now lived in exile in neighbouring communities, adding that there is no household in Lilu that has no member who has been murdered or kidnapped.
The palace representative of the community traditional ruler, Igwe Godson Onyediri in its comments, appealed to the state governor for quick assistance, describing the incessant killings in the area and the brutal killing of the wife of the priest of St. Andrews Anglican Church, and the burning of the church properties on Sunday as “sacrilegious, inhumane and an abomination”.
Responding to the protesters, the SSG, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who acknowledged their peaceful disposition even in the face of intense provocation appealed for their continuous understanding.
Chukwulobelu told the aggrieved protesters that the state governor was aware of their challenges and is on top of the matter.
“The state governor is not relenting in his efforts to secure a lasting peace in Lilu and other trouble spots in parts of the state,” the SSG added.
He collected all their placards, promising to present their matter to the state governor later in the day.
