Ejiofor Cries Out Over ‘Genocide Killings’ in South-East, Warns of Another Biafran War

Prominent human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised alarm over what he described as genocide-scale killings in Nigeria’s South-East and parts of the Middle Belt, warning that the country is on the brink of reliving the horrors of the Biafran War. In a recent statement, Ejiofor condemned the continuous and coordinated attacks on communities in Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, and Enugu states. He said the killings bear all the hallmarks of an ethnic cleansing campaign, accusing the government of turning a blind eye to the suffering of innocent civilians. “This is another Biafran war in the making,” he said. “What we are witnessing is not just criminality. It is a well-orchestrated genocide against defenceless people. History will not be kind to those who choose silence in the face of such evil.” The lawyer cited recent attacks in Amagu village in Ebonyi State, Ogboji in Anambra, and Yelewata in Benue, where scores of residents were allegedly slaughtered by suspected armed herdsmen. He described the level of violence as “unimaginable” and warned that failure to act could plunge the country into a deeper crisis. Ejiofor called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a State of Emergency in Benue State, in accordance with Section 305 of the Constitution. He argued that the scale of destruction in the state had surpassed the threshold for normal law enforcement interventions. According to him, the refusal of the federal government to classify the perpetrators largely identified by victims as armed herdsmen as terrorists, has emboldened them to carry out more atrocities unchecked. “These attackers are known. They operate openly and with impunity. Communities identify them, yet the state chooses to label them as ‘unknown gunmen’ or mere bandits. This deliberate downplaying of their actions only fuels further bloodshed,” Ejiofor said. He further warned that the methods of violence being witnessed today village invasions, arson, targeted killings, and forced displacements mirror those used during the Nigerian Civil War, particularly in the Eastern Region. “The signs are clear. These are not random attacks. We’re seeing a repeat of the same horror that engulfed this region over 50 years ago. Are we really prepared to watch it happen again?” he queried. Ejiofor urged international human rights organisations, the United Nations, and civil society groups to step in and pressure the Nigerian government into taking urgent action to stop the killings and bring perpetrators to justice. The lawyer stressed that the insecurity ravaging the region is no longer a regional or ethnic matter, but a national emergency that threatens Nigeria’s unity and stability. As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has not responded to Ejiofor’s comments. Security agencies, however, continue to maintain that efforts are ongoing to improve intelligence and safeguard lives in volatile areas.