Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has said that the ongoing violence in Nigeria’s Southeast is not religiously motivated, stressing that Christians are killing one another in the region.
Reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and his threat of military action against Islamic extremists, Soludo said the crisis in the Southeast should not be viewed through a religious lens.
Speaking during a weekend media chat, the governor noted that many of those involved in the killings bear Christian names, underscoring that the unrest stems from deeper social and political issues, not faith differences.
“In this part of the country, we are about 95 percent Christians. The people in the bushes; Emmanuel, Peter, John are all Christians killing fellow Christians. It has nothing to do with religion,” Soludo said.
He urged Nigerians to engage in honest dialogue and introspection to resolve the crisis, expressing confidence that the government would act decisively to restore peace.
Violence in the Southeast has worsened since the detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, with armed gangs carrying out frequent attacks. While authorities blame IPOB, the group denies involvement, insisting it has suspended the sit-at-home orders that criminal elements continue to enforce.
