Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that contrary to widespread belief, Fulani herdsmen are not responsible for the spate of killings and kidnappings in the South-East, insisting that the majority of the crimes are perpetrated by Igbos.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the Diaspora at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, USA, Soludo revealed that nearly every criminal apprehended in the state since he took office has been of Igbo origin.
“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 described as a “dangerous and misleading narrative” blaming Fulani herdsmen for the insecurity.
The event, part of the governor’s weeklong engagement with the Anambra diaspora community, offered a detailed update on his administration’s milestones and current challenges.
In a video from the meeting now trending on social media, Soludo reaffirmed that the real threat to the South-East is internal.
“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 further described many self-proclaimed freedom fighters as mere criminals exploiting 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 urge members of the diaspora to embrace the “Think Home” philosophy by investing in Anambra and contributing to its growth.
“If you’re not part of the solution, you might be part of the problem,” he said, calling for shared responsibility in safeguarding and developing the homeland.
Accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi, Soludo outlined strides in infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth empowerment, and security.
Also present was Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Samson Itegboje, who emphasized the critical role of the diaspora in national development.
The session ended with an interactive Q\&A, where attendees praised Soludo for his candour.
“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 participant said.
