Governors from Nigeria's Southeast region are holding closed-door talks with the federal government to free detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu, Abia State Governor Alex Otti confirmed Thursday, positioning himself at the helm of the discreet push amid rising calls from local elders.

During his monthly media chat, Otti, whose state claims Kanu as a native son, sidestepped specifics on the negotiations, saying they weren't primed for headlines. "As his governor, I am in the forefront... The South East governors are also involved. So, we are discussing," he told reporters, underscoring a collective regional bid to resolve the impasse that's fueled unrest since Kanu's 2021 arrest on treason charges.

Beyond the high-stakes diplomacy, Otti spotlighted security gains in Abia, crediting joint efforts with police, army, and DSS for a calmer landscape, while pledging more gear and prison upgrades—not to lock up more, but to ease operations.

He flagged ember-month risks, urging residents to tip off authorities on threats, as intel remains key to nipping crimes in the bud. On school break-ins tied to wayward youth, the governor outlined a fix: four dedicated guards per campus, rolling out imminently.

Infrastructure took center stage too, with Otti teasing President Bola Tinubu's October 3 visit to ribbon-cut a slate of Aba roads, plus the imminent kickoff for the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal highway rebuild. Addressing Nsulu protests over Abia Airport land payouts, he owned up to snags—missed rightful claimants, unfinished paperwork, and a contractor's overreach—now ironed out with fresh directives and checks.

Otti wrapped by touting broader wins in economy and services, vowing deeper dives ahead, as the Kanu talks simmer against a backdrop of elder-led demos pressing Southeast leaders to rally at the Villa for his unconditional release.