Villagers have cried out for help in Lilu community in Anambra state and Agwa community in Imo state The people lamented that gunmen have imposed compulsory burial levies on grieving families for permission to organise burialCommunity leaders from the areas narrated how gunmen have killed and destroyed several propertiesLegit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
Gunmen reportedly killed people and forced grieving families in Lilu community in Anambra state and Agwa community in Imo state to pay burial levies as permission for burial rites.
The Palace Secretary of the Lilu community, Dr Dominic Okoli, said at least 25 people were killed by gunmen, and no fewer than 30 houses were destroyed and looted between 2020 and 2025.
Villagers cry out for help as gunmen demand funeral levy in Anambra, Imo state
Source: OriginalOkili noted that due to the domination of the community by the gunmen, the area had now been described as “the Sambisa of South-East.”
“Between 2020 and 2025, over 25 people were killed and kidnapped in Lilu alone, and the primary cause is the so-called gunmen, which some call unknown gunmen. During the same period, over 30 private and public houses have been destroyed and looted. The underlying thing is that, till today, not a single person has been held accountable.”As reported by The Punch, Okoli stated this while speaking virtually at the relaunch of the Amnesty International report on extrajudicial killings in the South-East, held in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Similarly, a community leader in the Agwa community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nduka Ozor, gunmen mposed burial levies on the residents.
Ozor added that the levy could be up to N500,000 in some cases.
The community leader said the gunmen responsible for the killing of his brother, the monarch, a pregnant lady and others.
“They are not unknown gunmen; they are known members of the community, and they carried out these killings without wearing masks. They are the boys we know.“Properties worth over N1bn were destroyed, and over 60 people were brutally killed, and you don’t even know the reason why they killed them. You can go and bury your dead relative, but you have to pay the sum of N500,000 to obtain permission.”Gunmen force grieving families to pay funeral levy in Anambra, Imo states
Source: OriginalTerrorists demand N200 million security levy Terrorists imposed a N200 million security levy on the Lile community in Kwara State, threatening further attacks.
The bandits have reportedly been terrorising several other communities in the state, with residents citing security concerns.
A community elder, Dr. Sanusi Lafiagi, lamented severe attacks, killings, and abductions, while explaining the amount paid to the terrorists so far.
Terror Kingpin Demands Gold Protection Levy The growing insecurity in Zamfara state took a fresh dimension as a terror kingpin reportedly made a crucial demand from residents in four communities.
The notorious bandit named Sani Black has reportedly demanded 150 kilogrammes of pure gold as a “protection levy” from the local communities.
Reports making the rounds on Saturday, August 2, revealed that the communities now face the daunting challenge of gathering the gold, valued at hundreds of thousands of naira.
Source: Legit.ng
