Backlash Trails Soludo’s Comment Claiming ‘99% of Kidnappers in Anambra Are Igbo, Not Fulani’
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, is facing strong backlash following a controversial statement made during his recent visit to the United States, where he claimed that the vast majority of arrested kidnappers in Anambra are Igbo, not Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking at an event in Maryland on July 7, Soludo declared:
“Of all those arrested in various kidnappers’ camps across Anambra, 99.5% are Igbos. None is a member of the so-called killer herdsmen.”
He also described security reports about Fulani herdsmen occupying Anambra forests as “false narratives.”
The remark has sparked outrage, particularly from the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigerian human rights watchdog.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its board chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the group condemned Soludo’s claim as “reckless, misleading, and dangerous,” warning that it undermines public safety and ignores verified threats.
“The governor is endangering the present and future security of the state by denying clear threats,” the group stated.
Intersociety accused the Soludo-led government of turning a blind eye to the activities of armed herdsmen, who the group claims are responsible for at least 30% of violent crimes in Anambra.
It further criticized the governor for failing to direct security forces to raid over 60% of known criminal forest camps, some of which are allegedly occupied by armed herders.
The group referenced a June 2025 media report that listed Anambra among 11 states backing the federal government’s cattle ranching initiative, describing the move as “short-sighted and dangerous” for the southeastern region.
They also cited a 2024 incident where a family of three was abducted and allegedly raped by herdsmen in Ukwulu forest, an event the state government reportedly denied and dismissed as fabricated.
Furthermore, the group made a startling allegation that a top official in Soludo’s administration had been involved in helping herders acquire land across communities in Anambra, including Awka North, Ayamelum, and Dunukofia.
While acknowledging the governor’s strides in road infrastructure and free education, Intersociety warned that his perceived alignment with the herdsmen’s ranching agenda may have long-term cultural and security implications.
“Anambra is sitting on a jihadist time bomb, and the danger cannot be overstated,” the group warned.
As of press time, Governor Soludo has not issued any further clarification or response to the backlash.
