Appeal for Nnamdi Kanu’s Release not Linked to South-East Insecurity — Gov Soludo.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has stated that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is separate from the security challenges in the South-East.
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 widespread calls for his release.
Some argue that freeing him would help curb insecurity in the region. However, during a media chat marking his third anniversary in office on Monday, Soludo insisted that Kanu’s detention and the ongoing security crisis should not be linked.
“The release of Nnamdi Kanu for me is different from the issue of security. I separate the two; I don’t link them,” Soludo said. “Having him released is about engaging in a broader conversation on the long-term future of the Igbo people.”
The governor emphasized that his push for Kanu’s release is aimed at fostering dialogue, not addressing criminal activities.
He added that his administration has extended an olive branch to criminals, offering them rehabilitation and empowerment, but warned that those who refuse would be dealt with.
Soludo also noted that while he continues to advocate for Kanu’s freedom, groups linked to Simon Ekpa have turned the situation into a wave of v+olence, indiscriminately k+lling people.