Ejiofor slams persistent killings, says failure to prosecute terrorists equals ‘negotiating with terror’

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA – Human rights lawyer and public affairs analyst, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has condemned the continued wave of killings across Nigeria, warning that the failure to arrest and prosecute perpetrators amounts to the state “negotiating with terror and campaigning on corpses.”

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday and titled “When the State Negotiates with Terror and Campaigns on Corpses,” Ejiofor lamented what he described as an unprecedented assault on Nigeria’s sovereignty, marked by mass killings, displacement of communities, and official indifference.

He noted that the government’s response to repeated attacks has become predictable, often limited to condolence messages and announcements of security deployments after lives have already been lost. According to him, such actions neither deter future attacks nor deliver justice to victims.

Ejiofor questioned why intelligence warnings reportedly issued ahead of attacks rarely translate into preventive action, asking why armed groups are able to strike repeatedly without interception or consequences. He argued that the absence of arrests and prosecutions fuels public suspicion of institutional complicity or negligence.

He further criticised the political class for what he described as misplaced priorities, alleging that political manoeuvring, defections, and preparations for the 2027 general elections appear to be taking precedence over the protection of lives.

Citing recent incidents in Kwara, Benue, Katsina, and Kaduna states, Ejiofor said hundreds of Nigerians, including prospective voters, have been killed within weeks, warning that unchecked violence could undermine both national stability and democratic participation.

He also expressed concern over negotiated releases of abducted persons without public disclosure of arrests or prosecutions of kidnappers, arguing that such outcomes embolden criminal networks and strengthen their financial capacity.

Ejiofor called for an immediate declaration of a national security emergency and urged the Federal Government to adopt decisive, transparent measures to dismantle terror networks across the country.

“The time for ritual condolences has passed. Nigeria must act decisively, because when death becomes routine, conscience collapses,” he said.

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