Gov. Soludo Has Buried the False Narrative That Northerners Are Responsible for All the Terrorism in South-East — Femi Fani Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has weighed in on recent comments made by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, concerning the true identity of those behind the violence in Nigeria’s South-East. Soludo stated that 99.9% of killings and kidnappings in the region are perpetrated by Igbos themselves—not by Fulani herdsmen or other external actors.
Fani-Kayode, in a strongly worded statement, endorsed Soludo’s remarks and described them as an important correction of what he called a long-standing false narrative. He asserted that the blame for terrorism in the South-East has often been incorrectly placed on Northerners, especially the Fulani, and praised Soludo for his courage in setting the record straight.
“Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has said that 99.9% of killings and kidnappings that take place in the East are perpetrated by Igbos and not Fulanis,” Fani-Kayode wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. “I guess the false narrative that Northerners are responsible for all the terrorism in the East is finally dead and buried. Thanks be to God.”
Soludo’s original comments were made during a state security forum in Awka, where he addressed stakeholders on the deteriorating state of peace in the region. He challenged the popular notion that Fulani herdsmen are to blame for the wave of attacks and instead called for accountability among the Igbo people themselves.
“The reality is that 99.9% of the people killing our brothers and sisters, burning down our markets, and kidnapping innocent people in this region are Igbos,” the governor said. “We must be honest with ourselves. The criminals are within.”
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His remarks were interpreted by many as a reference to criminal elements operating under the guise of pro-Biafran agitation, including rogue factions of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other unidentified gunmen who have enforced illegal curfews and attacked state infrastructure.
Fani-Kayode, who has a history of strong commentary on national security and ethnic issues, commended Soludo’s honesty and called on other leaders to embrace truth over political correctness.
“For years, we have allowed political correctness and ethnic solidarity to blind us from the truth. Governor Soludo has shown uncommon courage by saying what many leaders know but fear to speak,” he wrote. “This is not about Igbos or Fulanis—it’s about truth. And truth must be the foundation of any serious national conversation on insecurity. The earlier we confront our internal demons, the faster we can solve our problems.”
The former minister called on other governors in the South-East and across Nigeria to acknowledge local complicity in violence and to avoid blaming external groups without evidence.
Reactions to Soludo’s statement and Fani-Kayode’s endorsement have been swift and sharply divided.
In the South-East, while some community leaders and analysts welcomed the comments as a long-overdue admission, several pro-Biafran groups condemned them as a betrayal.
Emma Powerful, spokesperson for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), criticized Soludo, saying, “Governor Soludo is playing politics with the blood of his people. The real terrorists are Fulani herdsmen who have invaded our forests, killed our farmers, and attacked our communities. Any attempt to deny this is a betrayal.”
Conversely, other voices in the region offered support for Soludo’s truth-telling.
Chief Damian Nwankwo, a retired police commissioner in Anambra, said, “I have investigated many of these crimes. The people behind them are our own. They wear our clothes, speak our language, and hide among us. We must stop pretending.”
In Northern Nigeria, the comments were met with approval. Abdullahi Bello, a spokesperson for the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, stated, “For years, we have been called terrorists by people in the South-East, even when it was clear that most of the violence there is internal. We thank Governor Soludo for speaking the truth.”
The rise of armed groups in the South-East, often referred to as “unknown gunmen,” has caused widespread fear and instability in recent years. These groups have carried out attacks on government facilities, markets, transportation routes, and even traditional rulers. While the origins of these groups remain contested, security analysts believe most of the violence is now driven by local actors with a mixture of ideological, criminal, and political motives.
A 2024 report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) found that over 78% of violent incidents in the South-East between 2021 and 2024 were linked to local gangs and separatist factions rather than external actors.
The tendency to externalize the causes of violence, critics say, has hampered effective community response and allowed internal criminal networks to flourish under the radar. Soludo’s remarks—and Fani-Kayode’s echo of those remarks—could mark a turning point in efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Political communication scholar Professor Chido Onumah noted, “If we want peace, we must first be honest. The temptation to outsource blame is part of what fuels cycles of violence. What Soludo and Fani-Kayode are saying, in essence, is that there’s no shortcut to truth.”
Fani-Kayode, once a strong defender of Southern ethnic interests, has in recent years positioned himself as a voice for pan-Nigerian unity, especially as the country faces multiple crises ranging from terrorism and banditry to economic stagnation.
In his statement, he stressed the need for all regions to own their internal problems and resist the urge to scapegoat others.
“The North has Boko Haram and bandits. The South-West has cultists and ritual killers. The South-East now has unknown gunmen and rogue elements of IPOB. None of us is innocent. We must all face our reality,” he said.
Governor Soludo, for his part, has continued to push for transparency and community-based solutions to insecurity. In follow-up comments to journalists, he said, “We must stop living in denial. The violence in the South-East has cost us thousands of lives and billions in investments. It is time to stop pointing fingers and start cleaning house.”
He urged religious leaders, local governments, and civil society to support peacebuilding efforts and to discourage the glorification of violence in the name of ethnic pride or political agitation.
Security experts say that unless there is a concerted effort to address local drivers of violence, the situation in the South-East could continue to deteriorate. “We need deradicalization programs, education, economic support, and re-integration for disillusioned youth,” said Dr. Ibrahim Musa, a conflict resolution specialist based in Abuja. “And we need leaders who can speak the truth. Soludo has taken that step. Others must follow.”
As the conversation around violence in the South-East continues to evolve, many Nigerians hope that this new narrative—one of introspection rather than blame—can pave the way for a more honest, inclusive, and effective national response to insecurity.