Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the chief legal representative of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian government against resorting to military force as a means to quell demands for justice or substituting dialogue with violence in addressing nationwide unrest.
In a statement released on Saturday, Ejiofor emphasized that no country has ever successfully silenced calls for justice through armed suppression, and he remains convinced that Nigeria will not be an exception, regardless of governmental efforts to the contrary.
Sharing his views on his X account under the headline, ‘Boko Haram: A fabricated label and the ignored lessons of history,’ Ejiofor urged the authorities to embrace engagement, compassion, and reconciliation if they genuinely desire enduring peace.
Responding to former President Goodluck Jonathan‘s recent revelation that Boko Haram insurgents once proposed the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their representative in peace negotiations, Ejiofor expressed disappointment that the federal government did not adopt a similar conciliatory approach when peaceful protests arose from the South-East region between 2015 and 2017.
He lamented that while various government levels have sought dialogue with terrorists and bandits, they have failed to extend the same courtesy to agitators like Kanu, who has been detained since 2021, and whose organization, IPOB, has been banned.
“The proscription initiated a relentless cycle of distrust, violence, and estrangement,” Ejiofor stated.
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“Instead of tackling the root causes, the government opted for widespread repression, which unintentionally validated the use of force where understanding was crucial.
“Between 2015 and 2017, a striking parallel unfolded. During this time, the Nigerian State faced not armed militants but thousands of young men and women from the South-East peacefully demonstrating against perceived long-standing political and structural marginalization. Rather than fostering dialogue, the state responded with harsh measures that inflicted lasting wounds on the collective consciousness of the region and its people.
“History will remember that the midnight proscription of the global peaceful movement of IPOB in 2017 marked the onset of an unending spiral of mistrust, violence, and alienation. Instead of addressing the core issues, the government’s blanket ban legitimized force where empathy was desperately needed.
“Tragically, this has led to the rise of dangerous factions-misguided individuals who have turned the movement into criminal opportunism. These groups neither uphold the original ideals nor the ethical foundation of the earlier movement; they are the unintended consequences of a void left by the absence of meaningful engagement.
“The reality is clear: no nation has ever quelled a legitimate demand for justice through violence. Lasting peace is only attainable through sincere dialogue, empathy, and a conscious effort to differentiate genuine grievances from opportunistic acts.
“It is never too late to reopen channels of communication. The Federal Government must find the resolve to re-engage, to separate the sincere from the insincere, to distinguish authentic aspirations from criminality, and to rebuild trust where disillusionment now prevails.
“Ultimately, a country that refuses to converse with its youth will one day be forced to negotiate with their shadows,” he concluded.