{"id":124695,"date":"2025-12-30T19:30:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=124695"},"modified":"2025-12-30T19:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:30:21","slug":"gunmen-unleash-terror-in-anambra-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/gunmen-unleash-terror-in-anambra-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Gunmen Unleash terror in\u00a0 Anambra Community\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has again come under attack from yet-to-be-identified gunmen, leaving residents in fear and mourning, barely three weeks after a previous assault that left at least four people dead and several others abducted.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The community has endured recurrent attacks over the past five years. The first major incident was reported in 2019, when gunmen targeted homes and communal spaces, killing residents and abducting others. Since then, the violence has escalated, with attackers striking churches, the palace of the traditional ruler, and private homes.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December 2025, just before Christmas, gunmen returned, killing a resident, Chinese Nwaka, with an axe in front of his elderly parents, abducting the town\u2019s palace chief, Oliver Umeaku, and destroying the St. Andrew\u2019s Anglican Church parsonage along with other property.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite repeated complaints and a visit to the Government House in Awka to petition the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, the community says no meaningful action has been taken.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest attack last week has reignited fear among residents, many of whom say the gunmen move freely day and night, leaving them helpless.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to journalists while showing the aftermath of the attack, a community spokesman, who gave his name simply as Emeka for security reasons, described the killings and destruction as devastating. \u201cWe are anguished and helpless,\u201d he said, recounting how Nwaka was dismembered in front of his elderly parents. Emeka expressed frustration at what he described as the state government\u2019s inaction.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAfter the first attack, we stormed the government house in Awka to make the authorities aware of the prolonged insecurity in our community. We wanted to know whether we are still part of Anambra State or if we have been excised to the neighbouring Imo State.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the Secretary to the State Government received the community members, collected their placards detailing their grievances, and promised to brief Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. \u201cBut since that visit, no action or response has come from the authorities,\u201d Emeka lamented. Journalists were shown the remnants of St. Andrew\u2019s Anglican Church, the parsonage, and charred vehicles belonging to Rev. Gabriel Obiesie, whose wife and children were killed during the previous attack. The cleric himself survived machete injuries and bullet wounds and is reportedly recuperating in an undisclosed hospital.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emeka also led journalists to the burnt palace of the town\u2019s traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Igwe Godson Onyediri, describing it as a stark symbol of the community\u2019s suffering.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He questioned whether the SSG briefed the governor as promised and expressed doubt that the state government even knows the location of Lilu.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While attempts to reach the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, were unsuccessful, the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, said investigations into the attacks are ongoing.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Emeka dismissed the claim as \u201cmere playing to the gallery,\u201d noting that no government agent, local, state, or federal, has set foot in the community since the attacks began.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He concluded by urging anyone willing to assist the beleaguered community to step forward. \u201cWe are ready to work with anyone who can help restore peace and safety to Lilu,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Security agencies have appealed to residents to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities stressed the importance of community cooperation in restoring law and order and encouraged anyone with tips to contact local police units immediately.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Tracy Moses Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has again come under attack from yet-to-be-identified gunmen, leaving residents in fear and mourning, barely three weeks&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94064,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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