Soludo in U.S : Igbo Behind Southeast Kidnappings, Killings—Not Fulani

Governor Charles Soludo in USA

By Our Correspondent

Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, has declared that the overwhelming majority of kidnappings and killings in Anambra and the wider Southeast are perpetrated by Igbos, not Fulani herdsmen as widely believed.

Speaking at an interactive town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the diaspora, held at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, USA, on Sunday, Governor Soludo stated that “99.99% of the kidnappers and other criminals arrested in the state since I assumed office have been Igbos.”

The governor was in the United States to present a detailed report of his three-year stewardship, including key milestones and challenges facing his administration.

Dispelling what he called a “dangerous and misleading narrative,” Governor Soludo stated that it is not Fulani herdsmen but homegrown criminal elements terrorizing the Southeast. According to him, many of those who claim to be “liberators” hiding in the forests are, in reality, Igbo youths involved in violent crime for personal enrichment.

“Let’s stop deceiving ourselves,” “Ask yourselves: how do these so-called liberators survive in the forests for months without local support? Who feeds them? In my three years and three months in office, nearly every kidnapper and armed criminal we have apprehended is Igbo. Igbos are kidnapping and killing fellow Igbos—not Fulani.”he said.

Flanked by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, the governor delivered what attendees described as a no-holds barred account of his administration’s efforts in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and youth empowerment.

“Anambra belongs to all of us, calling on Ndi Anambra abroad to invest their skills, capital, and knowledge in the development of the homeland. “Our progress is a shared responsibility.”he stated.

Also present at the event was Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Samson Itegboje, who underscored the vital role of the diaspora in Nigeria’s national development.

A lively question-and-answer session followed Soludo’s address, during which he fielded probing questions on governance, insecurity, and the future of Anambra.

His candid responses drew applause from attendees, with many expressing admiration for his transparency.