BREAKING: IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor Urges Tinubu To Declare State of Emergency in Benue Over Unending Killings

Amid escalating violence and mass killings in Benue State, human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in the state.

Citing Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Ejiofor said the situation in Benue clearly meets the legal grounds for such a declaration, noting a “breakdown of public order and imminent danger to life and property.”

He described the killings as a “gruesome and relentless massacre of innocent civilians,” and criticised Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia for recently absolving Fulani herdsmen of blame in the ongoing attacks. Ejiofor argued that the governor’s remarks trivialise the real threat and jeopardise national security coordination.

“This is not the time for political appeasement or partisan manoeuvring. Leadership must show courage and constitutional fidelity in the face of bloodshed,” he said.

Ejiofor urged the federal government to grant security agencies full operational autonomy to launch sweeping operations aimed at neutralising what he described as “foreign militias infiltrating through Cameroon” who are allegedly responsible for the terror in Yelwata and surrounding communities.

He also took a swipe at Governor Alia, a former clergyman, saying leadership in times of crisis demands action, not deflection.

“If political leadership has become too heavy a burden, perhaps returning to the pulpit would better serve his conscience,” he stated.

He warned that the lives of Benue’s indigenous people must not be reduced to political bargaining chips, stressing that their only "crime" appears to be their ancestral identity and rightful claim to their homeland.

Ejiofor concluded with a strong warning:

“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. History will not forget those who remain silent or complicit in the face of preventable genocide. The time for rhetoric is over. The time for constitutional action is now.”

International Response

The United Nations has confirmed it is monitoring the situation. UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, condemned the killings and stressed the need for justice.

Amnesty International also reacted strongly, saying:

“The horrifying killing of over 100 people shows that whatever security measures are in place have completely failed.”

The human rights group urged the Nigerian government to end the daily bloodshed and prosecute the perpetrators.

In response to mounting public pressure, President Tinubu is expected to visit Benue on Wednesday, following widespread backlash over his initial silence.