Soludo Says Insecurity in Southeast Not Religious, Blames Local Criminal Networks

By Diafa Doubra,

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has dismissed claims that the wave of killings and violent attacks in the Southeast region is driven by religion, insisting that the culprits are homegrown criminals.

Speaking during a security briefing in Awka, Soludo stated that many of those terrorizing communities in the forests “bear Christian names,” emphasizing that the violence is not rooted in faith but in crime, greed, and social decay.

The governor urged Nigerians and the international community to stop viewing the crisis through a religious lens, warning that such narratives could worsen divisions in the country.

According to him, the real issue lies in the proliferation of armed groups exploiting political and economic instability for personal gain. “What we’re facing is not a religious war,” Soludo said. “It is a law-and-order problem driven by local actors, and we are determined to restore peace through community engagement and security reforms.”

He assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, has intensified operations to dismantle criminal camps across Anambra’s forests and border areas.

Soludo also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and youth groups to work together in rebuilding trust and ensuring sustainable peace in the region.