By Titus Eleweke, Editor, South East I Monday, Oct 12, 2026
IBADAN — Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently investigate the reported killing of an Igbo family of six in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Ejiofor warned that rising ethnic hostility and inflammatory rhetoric pose a severe threat to national stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in his latest Monday Musings commentary, Ejiofor demanded justice for Ephraim Chukwu, his wife, and their four children, who were reportedly murdered in September 2026.
He urged authorities to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible, while taking decisive action against individuals inciting ethnic violence.
The human rights lawyer expressed grave concern over growing hostility toward Igbo residents in parts of the South-West, cautioning that political tensions could escalate further as the election season approaches.
According to Ejiofor, Nigeria’s increasingly polarized political climate—fueled by hate speech and ethnic incitement—threatens peaceful coexistence and public safety. He noted that his previous interventions had repeatedly warned that the 2027 polls could turn violent if divisive rhetoric remains unchecked.
He specifically highlighted concerning reports of individuals using social media platforms, including Facebook, to call for violence against Igbo residents in the South-West, urging security agencies to treat such threats with utmost urgency.
Questioning why political differences are increasingly framed along ethnic lines despite decades of intermarriage, trade, and peaceful coexistence between Igbo and Yoruba communities, Ejiofor warned that targeting citizens based on their ethnicity undermines national cohesion and deepens community mistrust.
He also called for accountability among public officials and political appointees whose actions or utterances encourage ethnic hostility, warning that impunity would only embolden offenders.
“No political ambition is worth a single innocent life; no ethnic grievance justifies murder; and no government should wait for another family to be wiped out before acting,” Ejiofor said.
He stressed that justice for the Chukwu family must go beyond routine public statements to deliver a credible investigation, strict accountability, and concrete measures to guarantee the safety of all Nigerians regardless of where they reside.
