Villagers decry gunmen’s funeral levy in Anambra, Imo
Community leaders in the Lilu and Agwa communities in Anambra and Imo states have raised concerns over grieving families being forced to pay burial levies to gunmen responsible for killings in their communities.
The leaders spoke during the relaunch of an Amnesty International report on extrajudicial killings in the South-East, held in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Dr. Dominic Okoli, Palace Secretary of Lilu community, said that between 2020 and 2025, at least 25 people were killed and over 30 houses destroyed. He noted that Lilu has minimal government presence and that the forests in the area have become hideouts for gunmen.
“Before you bury a relative, you must obtain permission from the gunmen by paying them money,” Okoli said, adding that schools and healthcare facilities have also been disrupted by the ongoing attacks.
Nduka Ozor, a community leader in Agwa, Imo State, confirmed that the community had been under siege, with levies on burials sometimes reaching N500,000. He reported multiple killings, including his brother, the monarch, and a pregnant woman.
Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International, called on authorities to conduct thorough investigations into violence perpetrated by state and non-state actors in the region. He emphasized the need to protect the rights to life, liberty, and safety of residents in South-East Nigeria.
Recent reports indicate that between July and August 2025, at least 12 people were killed in Imo State communities, and three siblings were abducted in Amansea, Anambra State, with one of the children reportedly killed.
