The governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has stated that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the issue of insecurity in the South-East are unrelated matters.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for nearly five years since his arrest in Kenya by the Nigerian government, despite numerous calls for his release from various quarters.
Some advocates for Kanu’s release argue that it could help alleviate the security crisis in the South-East.
However, during a media briefing to mark his third anniversary on Monday, Governor Soludo, who has previously supported Kanu’s release, clarified, “The release of Nnamdi Kanu is, for me, a separate issue from security. I do not conflate the two.”
He continued, “Kanu’s release is about fostering a long-term dialogue regarding the future of the Igbo people, and that discussion is distinct.”
Addressing the issue of criminal activity, he stated, “For the criminals behind kidnappings, we’ve offered an olive branch: come forth, and we will train and empower you. If you refuse, we will take action against you.”
Soludo emphasised that his ongoing appeal for Kanu’s release is rooted in the desire to include him in broader discussions about the Igbo people’s future.
Nevertheless, the governor noted that while he has continued to advocate for Kanu’s freedom, “a multitude of individuals, including Simon Ekpa and his gang of criminals, have taken advantage of the situation, transforming it into a killing spree, recklessly taking lives.”
Simon Ekpa, who claimed responsibility for leading IPOB following Kanu’s arrest, was detained in Finland last November by Finnish police for what they described as “public exhortation to an offence, committed with terrorist intent.”
Governor Soludo expressed his uncertainty about Ekpa’s motives, asserting that he seems more interested in “swindling people for money.”
