In precolonial igboland, every community lived in autonomous setting

The community also have war towers, Sometimes 2 or 3, which is higher than other houses. They are used for lookouts against attack by enemies or other communities.

The towers usually have small loop holes in the walls at equal distances through which a gun could be fired in the event of an enemy attacking the town. In each compound also there are generally at least one high tree with a platform in its branches, from which a good lookout could be obtained.