Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has condemned the increasing pattern of violence associated with armed groups commonly described as “herdsmen.”
In a statement titled “Do Jihadist Fulani Terrorist Herdsmen Give Notice Before They Strike? Ultimatums to Armed Killers? A Dangerous Illusion Nigeria Can No Longer Afford: Why Ultimatums Without Preparedness Are a Perilous Delusion,” Ejiofor stated that what was once dismissed in some quarters as sporadic or localized conflict has now metastasized into a grave national security emergency, cutting across multiple states and leaving a trail of devastation.
According to him, treating this unfolding crisis with anything less than the utmost seriousness amounts to a dangerous misjudgment of the moment.
Ejiofor, who holds the traditional title of Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, emphasized that the facts are stark and unrelenting: repeated assaults on defenseless rural communities, systematic destruction of farmlands, mass displacement of innocent citizens, and the persistent erosion of human security.
“This is no longer conjecture; it is a lived and recurring tragedy,” he said.
He further asserted that what Nigeria is confronting in many instances are heavily armed actors operating with alarming coordination, audacity, and impunity,circumstances that raise serious and legitimate concerns about organization, intent, and possible linkages within the broader and volatile Sahel security corridor.
According to the human rights lawyer, there is no need for embellishment to grasp the severity of the threat.
“When communities are invaded in broad daylight, when lives are extinguished without restraint, when homes are razed and livelihoods obliterated, and when perpetrators retreat without consequence, the narrative decisively shifts. This is not mere conflict; it is a profound and escalating national security crisis.
“It is against this stark backdrop that the resort by some communities, particularly Ogoni youths, to issuing ultimatums to these armed actors must be soberly re-evaluated. With the greatest respect, violent aggressors do not operate within the bounds of civility or warning. They neither announce their intentions nor honor ultimatums. They exploit gaps, prey on vulnerability, and strike where defenses are weakest. An ultimatum, devoid of concrete security architecture and preparedness, risks becoming not a deterrent, but a dangerous illusion of control.
“This observation does not, in any way, diminish the courage, frustration, or legitimate anxieties of affected communities. On the contrary, it underscores a critical truth: courage must be matched with strategy, and resolve must be anchored in preparedness. Security challenges of this magnitude demand structured, lawful, intelligence-driven, and coordinated responses—not reactive proclamations that may inadvertently expose communities to even greater peril,” he added.
Ejiofor stressed that the imperative for inter-regional and cross-border security cooperation has never been more urgent.
He noted that the geographic spread of violent incidents,from traditionally affected areas such as Benue and Plateau to emerging flashpoints in other regions,demonstrates an irrefutable reality and no part of Nigeria is insulated.
“Security in the country is indivisible; a threat left unchecked in one region inevitably migrates and multiplies,”
“Let it be stated without equivocation: the continued expansion of these heinous activities,whether in the North Central, South East, South South, or South West constitutes a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s stability and future. To ignore it is reckless. To downplay it is irresponsible. To politicize it is to deepen a national wound that already bleeds profusely.
“Nigeria stands today at a defining crossroads. The question before us is no longer whether this threat exists,that is self-evident. The real question is whether it will be confronted with the urgency, sincerity, unity, and unyielding resolve it demands.
“Because the truth remains stark and unforgiving: those who destroy do not seek permission, do not issue notice, and do not wait. It is only those who value life, peace, and survival who must think ahead and act decisively,” he added.
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