Youths from the troubled Lilu Community in Anambra State's Ihiala Local Government Area have issued a desperate plea to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, urging him to declare a state of emergency to address the escalating insecurity that has gripped their homeland.
Daily Carnage Forces Desperate SOS Call
Under the banner of the Concerned Youths Organisation of Lilu, the young natives revealed that abductions, wanton killings, and unbridled arson have become a daily occurrence. The situation has deteriorated to a point where they felt compelled to make an urgent Save Our Soul (SOS) call directly to the state governor.
Speaking to journalists during a spot assessment tour on 5 January 2026, the group's spokesperson, who identified himself as Emeka, stated that no effort would be spared to draw the full attention of both the state and federal governments to their plight.
Church Ruins Bear Witness to Hoodlums' Attack
The youths addressed the press while standing in front of the charred remains of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, a site bearing glaring marks of a recent savage attack by the hoodlums. From this symbolic location, they made their central demand: Governor Soludo must immediately declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Lilu Community.
Emeka insisted that only such a decisive declaration could lead to the flushing out of the criminals and the restoration of sanity in the area. He expressed deep frustration, alleging that nearly 70 per cent of Lilu Community has been completely taken over by gunmen. The affected areas include:
- Umuezeala
- Eziorsu
- Umuodochi
- Uhualabor
- Enugwu-ezenduru
The group believes that a sustained, few-hour military engagement against the hoodlums would be sufficient to rout and eliminate them.
Call to Decentralize Youth Empowerment Scheme
Beyond the security crisis, the Concerned Youths also appealed for the decentralization of the state government's "One Youth, 2 Skills" empowerment programme. Emeka argued that bringing the initiative closer to the community would allow many idle, jobless, uneducated, and unskilled youths in and around Lilu to enroll.
He noted a significant barrier to participation, stating, "Most feel timid, reluctant and ashamed to travel the long distance from Lilu to Awka to inquire or register for such a programme, no matter how beneficial."
Threat to Escalate Plea to International Bodies
Frustrated by what they perceive as government inaction, the youth body issued a stark warning. Emeka declared, "It won’t be surprising to petition the National Assembly, the United Nations, European Union, President Donald Trump, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and ASATU since it’s now very obvious that the Anambra State government has no serious interest or commitment in our predicament."
This statement underscores the depth of their despair and their readiness to take their grievance beyond state and national borders if their calls for a state of emergency and localized intervention continue to go unanswered.
