On Tuesday, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, voiced skepticism about the potential impact of releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on addressing the ongoing insecurity issues in the South-East.
During a press briefing at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Soludo expressed concerns that criminals have begun to exploit the Biafran cause.
He explained that under the pretext of advocating for Biafra, these individuals have resorted to “lucrative criminality,” engaging in activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and idolatry.
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He emphasized that these crimes have no connection to the legitimate struggle for liberation, stressing that they are motivated purely by greed and lawlessness.
Soludo further disclosed that over 99 percent of criminals arrested in Anambra over the past two years were of Igbo descent, with more than 70 percent being non-indigenes of the state.
“The so-called agitators have transformed into organised criminal gangs,” Soludo said. “They hide in forests, kidnapping 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,” Soludo explained. “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 kill their own people?”
“Our people know these criminals. They are our brothers, cousins, and neighbours,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that in some communities, people contribute food to sustain these criminals hiding in the forests. How do you fight insecurity when people see criminals as heroes and the police as the enemy?”
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The governor revealed plans to launch ‘Operation Udo Ga Chi’ (Operation Peace Shall Reign), a statewide security initiative set to begin after January 25.
According to Soludo, the operation will involve the deployment of 163 marked vehicles for stop-and-search operations and the integration of advanced surveillance technology to monitor criminals and secure forests.
“We are intensifying our security measures with both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. We have trained forest guards to work with vigilantes and LG authorities to reclaim our forests. I call on these criminals to embrace our amnesty window, which remains open until the end of February,” Soludo added.
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