Human rights activist and lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor is urging indigenous communities in Benue and Plateau States to take action against the continued violence perpetrated by suspected armed herdsmen. In response to the recent "blood harvest" before Easter 2025, Ejiofor, who serves as counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), expressed disappointment in the government's failure to address the situation, emphasizing the need for self-defense measures.
"In the days leading up to Easter, and with chilling audacity on its eve, our nation has suffered a devastating surge of coordinated attacks across Benue and Plateau States. Dozens of innocent lives have been cruelly taken by terrorist herdsmen in what has tragically become a recurrent national crisis," he lamented.
Ejiofor criticized Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his contradictory stance on federal intervention. He stated, "In an all-too-familiar pattern, the Governor of Benue State, a member of the ruling APC, addressed the media, praising the Federal Government for its support in combating these marauders. Paradoxically, he followed this commendation with a plea for further federal aid, an inconsistency that highlights the severity of the crisis and the ineffectiveness of the response."
The activist also dismissed the Minister of Defence’s directive to pursue the attackers as futile. "While the Honourable Minister of Defence announced a presidential directive for security forces to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for these atrocities, the bloodshed continues unabated, with no significant action being taken on the ground," Ejiofor noted.
Ejiofor emphasized the importance of communities taking responsibility for their safety, stating, "Indigenous communities can no longer rely on a system that has consistently failed them. It is imperative that our people organize in defense of their ancestral lands and heritage within the confines of the law." He called for a united front against the terror groups that pose a threat to their survival, noting that history will not overlook those who remain silent or inactive in the face of such a grave threat.