Saturday, January 18, 2025 - Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State on Saturday revealed that arrested Finland-based self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa “has continued kidnapping for ransom”.
Soludo said kidnapping is currently a business that is more lucrative
than drugs and oil.
The governor who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said before he became
governor, eight local government areas in the state were being controlled by
gunmen.
Soludo also recalled how his father was kidnapped in 2009.
He said: “Kidnapping is not new, my father had been kidnapped as far back
as 2009. GU Okeke, Pokobros and many others have fallen victim too.
“Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being
controlled by gunmen.
“They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police
stations and went into the bush to label themselves liberators
“We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight
local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra
freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated themselves from it, but one Simon Ekpa
has continued kidnapping for ransom.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more
lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for
ransom, five to six naira was not reported
“With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the
kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry which these criminals have
converted to have become the fastest growing religion in the South-East.
Nothing is sacred to them anymore.”
0 Comments