By Peter Omopo
Human rights lawyer and legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has criticised a recent report by Amnesty International that linked the group to the recent killings in Okigwe, Imo State. Ejiofor described the report as “hasty” and “riddled with inconsistencies,” calling instead for a comprehensive and unbiased investigation.
The criticism comes in the wake of an attack by unidentified gunmen who ambushed and killed several travellers along the Okigwe Road days ago—a development that has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ejiofor questioned the credibility of Amnesty International’s conclusions, accusing the global human rights organisation of failing to carry out thorough verification before allegedly implicating IPOB.
“The quick attribution of the killings to IPOB, without exhaustive verification, raises serious concerns about the integrity and neutrality of the Amnesty International report,” he said.
While condemning the brutal attack and describing the perpetrators as “heartless,” Ejiofor emphasized that accountability must be pursued within the bounds of the law. He urged Nigerian security agencies to conduct a swift, diligent, and lawful investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“No individual or authority, regardless of their powers, is permitted to take another’s life outside the due process enshrined in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution,” he stated. “The sanctity of human life must remain inviolable.”
Ejiofor’s remarks highlight growing tensions surrounding the attribution of blame for the Okigwe killings and reinforce calls for a fact-based approach in addressing such sensitive incidents.
