Amnesty International Raises Alarm As Gunmen Kill Residents And Demand Burial Levies In South East Communities

 

Community leaders in Anambra and Imo States have cried out over what they described as worsening insecurity that has left grieving families at the mercy of gunmen. The leaders revealed that residents are being forced to pay burial levies to the same armed groups responsible for killing their loved ones.

The revelations were made during the relaunch of Amnesty International’s report on extrajudicial killings in the South East, an event that took place on Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos State. Several leaders from affected communities joined the discussion virtually, recounting experiences of unchecked violence that has turned once-peaceful villages into battle zones.

Speaking for the Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Palace Secretary Dr Dominic Okoli painted a grim picture of a land abandoned to its fate. According to him, the period between 2020 and 2025 witnessed no fewer than 25 killings and the destruction or looting of over 30 homes. He described a community stripped of its dignity and transformed into what locals now call the “Sambisa of the South East,” comparing it to the notorious forest stronghold of insurgents in northern Nigeria.

Okoli highlighted how the gunmen have forced themselves into every aspect of daily life. Residents are barred from holding funerals, yet are required to pay for permission to bury their dead. He added that schools in Lilu have remained closed since 2020, leaving children out of classrooms and vulnerable to exploitation. The limited healthcare services that once existed have been wiped out by the continuous attacks.

“Families cannot even bury their dead without paying. You must obtain clearance from the gunmen, and the money is not for funeral rites since those have been banned. This situation has left the community in fear, hopelessness, and total neglect,” Okoli said.

The story is similar in Agwa, a community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, where residents also live under the grip of armed groups. Community leader Nduka Ozor narrated harrowing details of killings, including the murder of his own brother, the monarch of the community, and a pregnant woman. He explained that the perpetrators were not strangers but known members of the community who operated openly without masks.

Ozor lamented that properties valued at over one billion naira had been destroyed, while more than 60 people had been killed in brutal attacks. He described how families are asked to pay as much as N500,000 before being allowed to bury their relatives. “These levies are imposed with no justification. They simply demand the money and you either comply or you risk further violence. This is the level of impunity we are dealing with,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that the combined efforts of security operatives, religious leaders, and community leaders had brought some calm, he insisted that the scars left behind are deep and lasting. The community is still reeling from displacement, destruction, and fear.

At the event, Amnesty International’s Country Director Isa Sanusi stressed that the extent of unlawful killings in the South East is immeasurable. He urged the Federal Government to investigate both state and non-state actors accused of violence. Sanusi called on authorities to live up to constitutional and international obligations to protect lives and properties.

“The Nigerian authorities must uphold their duty to safeguard the rights to life, liberty, and security. They must also launch prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into all cases of abuse. Failure to act only emboldens perpetrators and leaves communities like Lilu and Agwa abandoned,” Sanusi declared.

When contacted for a response on the allegations of gunmen imposing burial levies, the Police Public Relations Officer of Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, had not provided any comment at the time this report was filed.

Observers note that killings and kidnappings across the South East continue to raise grave concerns. Between July and August 2025, at least 12 people were killed during attacks on five communities in Imo State. In another disturbing incident, three siblings were abducted in Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Reports indicated that the abductors killed the brother after he refused an order to commit a heinous act against his sisters.

The cry from Lilu and Agwa represents the wider insecurity that has engulfed several communities in the region. Stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and ordinary residents, are appealing for urgent intervention to prevent the total collapse of social and communal life. Without decisive action, families may continue to suffer not only the loss of loved ones but also the indignity of being extorted to bury them.