Northern Igbo leader proposes solution to lingering insecurity in Southeast

…Says Kanu’s Continued Detention Fueling Tension, Urges Dialogue for Peace, Stability

From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe

The President General of the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), Chief Kenneth Okeugo, has proposed dialogue and political engagement as the most viable solution to the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s Southeast, warning that the continued detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is fueling unrest and undermining peace efforts across the region.

Okeugo, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, said the crisis in Southeast has taken a dangerous turn as criminal gangs and kidnappers continue to exploit Kanu’s name to justify acts of violence and intimidation. According to him, the situation has created confusion among residents and even security operatives, blurring the lines between genuine agitators and criminal opportunists.

He argued that freeing Kanu and opening structured dialogue between the Federal Government and credible Igbo leaders would help restore confidence, isolate criminal elements, and create a pathway for sustainable peace. Okeugo stressed that relying solely on legal proceedings and heavy-handed security responses has failed to address the root causes of the conflict, insisting that political negotiation remains the only lasting solution.

He said, “Every kidnapper or armed robber caught in the Southeast today claims to be working for Nnamdi Kanu he said. But most of us know it’s not true. These are criminals taking advantage of a sensitive issue to terrorize innocent citizens,” Okeugo added.

He stated that Kanu’s release would serve a dual purpose, restoring calm and exposing those who have been exploiting his name to justify violence and criminal activities. According to him, such a move would strengthen community-based intelligence and reduce the operational space for armed gangs.

Okeugo further disclosed that the Igbo Delegates Assembly believes in a political and dialogue-driven approach, which, if well-coordinated, could complement security operations and reduce mistrust between citizens and government agencies.

He said, “If Nnamdi Kanu is freed and the Federal Government engages credible Igbo leaders, the Southeast will be more secure. Continued detention is only deepening resentment and making intelligence-gathering more difficult”.

The IDA leader urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to prioritize national cohesion by resolving the matter politically, describing it as a test of leadership and unity. He warned that the use of force alone cannot end the crisis without addressing its political dimensions.

“For over five years, this case has been in court with no concrete progress. It is time for government to show leadership by opening dialogue. Negotiation is not weakness, it is strategy,” Okeugo said.

He also advised against the collective profiling of Igbo youths as IPOB sympathizers, noting that such stereotyping fuels alienation and weakens the sense of national belonging among the younger generation.

“Security forces must differentiate between genuine agitators and criminals. This distinction is critical for peace-building,” he emphasized.