We’ve opened negotiations for Nnamdi Kanu’s release – Gov Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has revealed that governors of the South-East are engaging the Federal Government over the possible release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Otti made this known on Thursday during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia, where he assured that quiet efforts were ongoing to secure Kanu’s freedom.

Responding to questions on the matter, the governor said: “The information and assurances are not for public consumption. As his governor, I am in the forefront of ensuring that he comes back. The South East governors are also involved. So, we are discussing.”

Beyond Kanu’s detention, Otti stressed that his administration remained focused on boosting security across the state as the year winds down.

“We will also continue to support the agencies, supporting the police, the army, the DSS, with little things to make their lives easier. We are also renovating and expanding the prison, not that we are expecting more criminals to be sent there,” he added.

He commended security operatives for keeping Abia relatively calm but urged residents to remain alert during the ember months.

“The state has been relatively peaceful. I want to use this opportunity to thank the security agencies, the army, and the officers who have worked and continue to work very hard. But it is never over yet. We have just launched into the ember months. And we all know what goes with ember months. I am using this opportunity to call on all of us to be more security-conscious. To report whatever we see. We should not keep quiet. A large part of the success in security is information. We have our own ways of gathering information. But if you also support what the government is doing with information, it will be very helpful.”

The governor expressed concern over incidents of school vandalism, revealing that some youths in the state had been implicated. He disclosed that four security guards would be deployed to each school to tackle the problem.