A United States-based organization representing Igbo interests has strongly criticised Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, following controversial remarks he made about the ethnic composition of kidnappers in the state.
The group, Concerned Citizens of Igbo Nation in Diaspora (CCIND), condemned what they described as “shocking” and “reckless” statements made by the governor during a recent town hall meeting with the Igbo community in Maryland.
“Governor Soludo made a shocking statement, claiming that 99.99% of alleged kidnappers arrested in Anambra are Igbos,” the group said in a statement dated July 21, signed by its spokesperson, Emeka Livingstone.
“He did not provide evidence as to how many of such arbitrarily quoted figures have been prosecuted and convicted.”
On July 6 in the U.S, Soludo stated: “I have been in office for three years and three months, and if we have arrested 100 criminals in the forest: kidnappers and so on, 99.99% of them are Igbo youths.
“That was part of the lies that were put in propaganda, and they went into kidnapping, because it is the next lucrative business after yahoo-yahoo and drugs.
“Igbos are the ones kidnapping Igbos; they are the ones killing Igbos. All the kidnappers’ camps are operated by Igbo youths,” Soludo said.
However, the group faulted the governor for not acknowledging repeated herdsmen attacks in various Anambra communities, including those under the previous administration.
“Governor Soludo’s unproven allegation fell short of telling his Igbo audience… how many of the alleged suspects have been lawfully tried and convicted before arriving at his arbitrary figure of 99.99%,” CCIND added.
They argued that the governor’s claim “gave a free pass for further invasion of farms and forests of Igbo land by these herdsmen”, while also fuelling propaganda against the Igbo nation.
As further proof of what they describe as the governor’s blind spot, they cited a recent incident in Ogbaru LGA where “some youths apprehended three armed Fulani herders who chased and shot at a young Igbo who confronted them for intruding into his farm.”
The group lamented that “Governor Soludo has avoided addressing this development and doing nothing to stop the incessant mayhem caused by these herdsmen in the state.”
“We are minded to caution that our leaders should desist from making sweeping statements that potentially endanger the lives of Igbo youths,” the statement read.
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