The governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed the widely held belief that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the wave of killings and kidnappings in the South-East region, stating instead that the majority of the crimes were perpetrated by Igbos.
Soludo made this startling revelation during a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the Diaspora, held at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, United States. He said virtually all criminals arrested in the State since his assumption of office were Igbos.
“99.99 per cent of kidnappers and other criminals arrested in the state since I assumed office three years ago have been Igbos,” the governor declared, challenging what he called a “dangerous and misleading narrative” that blames Fulani herdsmen for the insecurity in the region.
The event formed part of the governor’s weeklong engagement with the Anambra Diaspora community, during which he presented a comprehensive report of his administration’s milestones and ongoing challenges.
In a video from the event now circulating on social media, Soludo debunked the claims that Fulani herdsmen were the main perpetrators of violence in the region, insisting instead that the South-East’s greatest threat lies within.
“It is not Fulani herdsmen, but homegrown criminal elements terrorising the South-East,” he said. “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?”
He went further to label many of the so-called freedom fighters as mere criminals hiding under political slogans.
“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 herdsmen. Anambra belongs to all of us. Our progress is a shared responsibility.”
Soludo used the platform to call on the diaspora community to embrace the “Think Home” philosophy by investing in Anambra and contributing their expertise and resources to the state’s development.
“If you’re not part of the solution, you might be part of the problem,” he noted, appealing for collective ownership of the homeland’s security and prosperity.
The governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi, as he delivered what attendees described as a candid account of his administration’s performance. He highlighted achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education reform, youth empowerment, and the state’s evolving security strategy.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Samson Itegboje, also attended the event and underscored the importance of diaspora engagement in national development.
The town hall concluded with a spirited Q&A session. Many participants applauded the governor’s openness and frankness in confronting uncomfortable truths.
“He’s the most transparent and development-focused governor we’ve had. At least he’s telling the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable,” one respondent said.
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