Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has expressed doubts about whether the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), would bring an end to the ongoing insecurity in the South-East.

While some leaders believe that releasing Kanu could help ease the violence in the region, Soludo thinks otherwise. During a press conference on December 17, 2024, he stated that criminal groups have taken advantage of the Biafran cause. These groups, he believes, are using Kanu’s name to carry out organized crime and fuel the insecurity in the region.

Soludo also shared alarming statistics, revealing that over 99% of criminals arrested in Anambra over the past two years were from the Igbo community. He also mentioned that more than 70% of those arrested were not originally from the state. This suggests that the problem of insecurity may involve more than just Kanu’s detention and could be linked to deeper criminal activities in the area.

Governor Soludo’s comments highlight the complexity of the security challenges faced by the South-East and suggest that simply releasing Kanu might not be enough to solve the ongoing problems.

“The so-called agitators have transformed into organised criminal gangs. They hide in forests, k!dnapping innocent citizens for ransom, and they justify their atrocities under the pretext of Biafra. Let us be clear—this has nothing to do with any liberation movement. Criminality has taken on a life of its own. These people have tasted blood, and now, money is their motivation.

Kanu and IPOB have repeatedly dissociated themselves from these criminals. Even if Nnamdi Kanu is released today, I’m not sure they would listen to him because what they now pursue is wealth, not liberation. They have become enemies of the people they claim to protect. Who are they fighting for when they kidnap and k!ll their own people?”