Release of Nnamdi Kanu Not Tied to South-East Insecurity – Soludo

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has stated that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), should not be seen as directly connected to the security challenges in the South-East region. Speaking during a media chat marking his third anniversary in office on Monday, Soludo emphasized the need to distinguish between Kanu’s case and the ongoing violence in the region.

Kanu has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest and extradition from Kenya nearly five years ago. While some argue that his release could help reduce the growing insecurity in the South-East, Soludo took a different position. He clarified that his consistent calls for Kanu’s release are motivated by the need to include him in broader conversations about the future of the Igbo people, not as a solution to criminal activity in the region.

“The release of Nnamdi Kanu for me is different from the issue of security, I separate the two, I don’t link the two,” Soludo said. “Nnamdi Kanu for me is for us to have a conversation of a long-term future for the Igbos and that is a different conversation.”

The governor reiterated his administration’s offer of rehabilitation to those involved in criminal acts, encouraging them to surrender in exchange for empowerment and support. “For the criminals who are kidnappers, we have given them olive branch, come out, we will train you, we will empower you, we will rehabilitate you, if you don’t we take you out,” he said.

He also noted that during his persistent appeals for Kanu’s release, elements loyal to Simon Ekpa hijacked the movement and escalated violence in the region. Ekpa, a Finland-based separatist who claimed leadership of IPOB after Kanu’s arrest, was detained by Finnish authorities last year over what they described as “public exhortation to an offence, committed with terrorist intent.”

Soludo dismissed Ekpa’s motives, saying, “I don’t know what this guy is pursuing other than to swindle people for money.”