Army General Returns Home After Six Years in Anambra Community Freed from Criminal Elements

A Nigerian Army general identified only as General Azike has returned to his home in Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a six-year absence. His homecoming follows intensified security operations that have driven out criminal elements who had terrorised the area under the guise of supporting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist movement.

In a widely circulated video, residents of Lilu were seen celebrating the general’s return, with calls for other displaced indigenes to return as the community is now considered safe. Lilu had been among the communities in Anambra State held hostage by armed groups posing as IPOB members, forcing many residents, including the traditional ruler, to flee for safety.

The general was filmed alongside Igwe Godson Onyediri, the traditional ruler of Lilu, both expressing relief and gratitude for their newfound freedom. The monarch credited Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for facilitating the liberation of the community and other troubled areas in the state.

A separate video showed the general visiting his abandoned family compound, a large mansion now overgrown with vegetation after years of neglect. Signs of damage were evident, including bullet marks on the walls, highlighting the extent of the unrest that had gripped the area.

While the full identity of the man could not be independently confirmed, locals in the video consistently referred to him as a general. The return comes after recent joint operations by the Anambra State government and security agencies, which have successfully reclaimed communities from criminal elements and restored relative peace to the region.