Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has expressed doubts that releasing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will end the insecurity plaguing the South-East.
While some leaders continue to advocate for Kanu’s release, believing it could resolve the region’s security challenges since his arrest, Soludo remains unconvinced.
Speaking at a press conference in Amawbia on December 17, the governor stated that criminal elements have hijacked the Biafran cause, using Kanu’s name to fuel organized crime and insecurity. He revealed that over 99% of criminals arrested in Anambra in the past two years were Igbo, with more than 70% being non-indigenes of the state.
“These so-called agitators have become organized criminal gangs. They hide in forests, kidnapping people for ransom and justifying their crimes under the Biafran cause. Let’s be clear: this isn’t about liberation; it’s about criminality. These people now seek money, not freedom.”
Soludo noted that both Kanu and IPOB have distanced themselves from these criminals. He questioned whether Kanu’s release would have any effect, as those engaged in the violence are driven by wealth, not the quest for liberation. “They have become enemies of the people they claim to protect. Who are they fighting for when they kidnap and kill their own?” he asked.
