Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that the vast majority of kidnappings and k!llings in Anambra and across the South-East are being carried out by Igbo criminals, not Fulani herdsmen as widely believed
Speaking during a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the Diaspora at Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton, Maryland, United States, Soludo stated, “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, who has been in the U.S. engaging with Anambra citizens since Sunday, presented a detailed account of his three-year stewardship, highlighting milestones and challenges faced by his administration.
In a widely circulated video from the event, Soludo challenged what he called a “dangerous and misleading narrative,” stressing that it is not Fulani herdsmen but “homegrown criminal elements” terrorizing the South-East.
“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 asked. “In my three years and three months in office, nearly every kidnapper and armed criminal we have apprehended is Igbo. Igbos are kidnapping and k!lling fellow Igbos — not Fulani herdsmen. Anambra belongs to all of us. Our progress is a shared responsibility.”
He further explained that many of those claiming to be fighting for liberation are simply engaging in violent crime for personal gain.
Soludo urged members of the Diaspora community to embrace the “Think Home” philosophy by investing in the state and contributing their skills and resources to Anambra’s development.
Flanked by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Ezeajughi, the governor delivered a candid report of his administration’s efforts in infrastructure, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and security.
Also present was Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Samson Itegboje, who underscored the importance of Diaspora engagement in national growth.
A lively Q&A session followed Soludo’s remarks, with audience members applauding his transparency. One attendee said, “He’s the most transparent and development-focused governor we’ve had. At least he’s telling the truth — even if it’s uncomfortable.”
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