Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has made a striking revelation regarding the source of cariminal activities in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in Maryland, USA, Governor Soludo asserted that the overwhelming majority of crimes, including terrorism and kidnapping, are committed by Igbos themselves.
Contrary to popular narratives blaming external groups, Soludo stated that “99.9 percent of the criminals arrested for acts of terrorism and other vices are Igbos.” He emphasized that these so-called “liberators” who hide in the forests under the pretense of protecting the people from Fulani herdsmen are, in fact, homegrown criminals exploiting the situation for personal gain.
“The so-called liberators hiding in the forests are homegrown criminals feeding fat on blood money. They come under the guise that they are the ones protecting you from Fulani herdsmen,” Soludo explained. He questioned the logistics behind their prolonged forest stays, asking, “They live in the bushes for months, but no one has ever asked how these so-called liberators survive in the forest. They have to feed, who is paying for their services, don’t they have needs?”
Reflecting on his tenure, the governor revealed, “In my three years and three months in office, 99.99% of the kidnappers and other criminals we’ve arrested are Igbo. Let’s stop the lies. Igbos are kidnapping and killing fellow Igbos, not Fulani.”
However, this assertion has not gone unchallenged. The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a prominent rights group, has disputed Governor Soludo’s claims. Intersociety insists that Fulani herdsmen are indeed present in the bushes within the South-east zone, suggesting a more complex security situation than the governor’s statement implies.
This ongoing debate highlights the intricate dynamics of security challenges in the South-east, underscoring the need for comprehensive investigations and community engagement to address the root causes of violence and criminality in the region.
