Former Abia State Governor and Senate Majority Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has claimed that more than 30,000 people were killed in the South-East due to the secessionist agitation linked to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Kalu made the allegation during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday.
He described the crisis as a human and economic catastrophe that devastated households and destroyed businesses across the region.
Kalu said the agitation created a dangerous atmosphere. He added that the public had focused too much on clashes involving security operatives while ignoring massive civilian casualties.
He insisted that the real tragedy lies in the huge number of ordinary people who lost their lives and their livelihoods.
According to him, many families never recovered from the destruction.
He said, “Do you know that over 30,000 Igbos were killed? People who have shops lost their businesses. But people are just talking about soldiers killed and not the rest of them. We need a holistic solution to this problem.”
Kalu said the region must move away from emotional reactions. He urged political leaders and supporters to stop what he called “noise-making” and focus on negotiation. He noted that a political settlement remained the most realistic way to resolve Kanu’s situation. He claimed he had been working quietly with the Federal Government to achieve that goal.
He recalled stories of traders who lost everything. He mentioned his late mother’s friend, whose rice business collapsed after her shop was looted. He said she owed his mother millions before the unrest destroyed her source of income. He insisted that such stories had been buried under political arguments.
Kalu also narrated his past engagements with Kanu. He said he first met him in 2016 and again after his return from Kenya. He claimed the DSS witnessed their discussions.
The senate Whip also defended The Sun Newspaper, which he owns, saying Buhari’s government once wanted to proscribe it because it reported Kanu’s activities. He said he resisted the move.
He said he played a key role in securing Kanu’s 2017 bail.
He insisted that judges should not be insulted over court rulings. According to him, people displeased with judgments should approach appellate courts rather than attack judicial officers.
Kalu contrasted Kanu’s courtroom behaviour with his own experience. He said he never insulted a judge even after he received a 12-year sentence. He stressed the need for respect for judicial processes.
He criticised Kanu’s actions and said they nearly brought the region to its knees.
Kanu also accused supporters of worsening tensions through emotional reactions.
He said Igbo leaders must instead engage the government strategically.
Kalu insisted the agitation inflicted widespread destruction. He said the region must now pursue peace, political negotiation, and responsible engagement to prevent further damage.