Diaspora Igbo Group Slams Governor Soludo for “Dangerous” Kidnapper Comments Targeting Igbo Youths
A prominent diaspora group, Concerned Citizens of Igbo Nation in Diaspora (CCIND), has strongly condemned recent statements made by Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, accusing him of profiling Igbo youths in relation to kidnapping in the state.
During a public event in Maryland, USA, earlier this month, Governor Soludo reportedly stated that “99.99% of kidnappers arrested in Anambra are Igbos,” dismissing longstanding concerns about attacks from Fulani herdsmen and other non-indigenous actors.
Reacting through a press release signed by its spokesperson Emeka Livingstone, the diaspora group described Soludo’s remarks as reckless, unfounded, and deeply harmful, warning that they could escalate ethnic profiling, endanger innocent lives, and further damage the reputation of young people in the Southeast.
“Statements like these from a sitting governor are not only disheartening, but dangerous. Leaders must protect their citizens, not expose them to potential human rights violations or extrajudicial actions,” the statement read.
The group also accused Soludo of turning a blind eye to actual security incidents involving herdsmen in the state. They referenced a recent incident in Ogbaru Local Government Area where local youths apprehended three armed Fulani herders after they allegedly shot at a young farmer defending his land.
“Just days after Governor Soludo’s sweeping statement, real threats materialized. Yet, he failed to acknowledge or condemn these attacks by non-Igbo elements,” CCIND noted.
They warned that Soludo’s claim exonerates known violent groups, giving external forces license to invade farmlands, forests, and communities in Igboland under the guise of innocence.
Furthermore, the group questioned the governor’s statistical claim, demanding evidence of how many of the accused Igbo suspects were lawfully prosecuted and convicted to justify his public conclusion.
“We find it troubling that such an extreme figure 99.99% was declared without any credible data or legal outcomes to support it,” they added.
CCIND called on political leaders to show restraint and responsibility in their public comments, especially in sensitive matters like security. They emphasized that sweeping generalizations like Soludo’s only serve to further marginalize already-vulnerable communities.
“At a time when Igbo youths are already facing unemployment, displacement, and state neglect, labeling them en masse as criminals is not leadership it is betrayal,” the group concluded.
