Activist IFEANYI EJIOFOR calls out Katsina government over proposed release of 70 bandits

Thursday, January 15, 2026 - A legal practitioner and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has criticised the Katsina State Government over its plan to release 70 suspected bandits, warning that the move could worsen insecurity and fuel further violence.

Ejiofor, counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, described the decision as “an inversion of justice, morality and sovereignty.”

In a statement issued in Abuja, he faulted the negotiation with armed groups and the release of suspects under what he described as a peace arrangement, arguing that it rewards violence and weakens the rule of law.

According to him, the move sends a dangerous signal that “arms, bloodshed and lawlessness have now become viable bargaining instruments in dealings with the Nigerian state.”

He warned that the policy could escalate instability in Katsina State, the North-West and other parts of the country.

Ejiofor also questioned whether the decision had the approval of the Federal Government and national security agencies, insisting that Nigerians deserve a clear, constitutionally grounded explanation.

He said the absence of a firm response from federal authorities could be interpreted as tacit approval.

The lawyer contrasted the planned release of the suspects with what he described as the continued detention of individuals in other parts of the country, particularly in the South-East, some of whom he said have been held for years without trial.

He cited the reported death of a detainee, Mrs Calista Ifedi, while in custody, as highlighting what he called an imbalance in Nigeria’s justice and security system.

Ejiofor urged South-East governors and political leaders to prioritise the plight of detained citizens and demand accountability and due process.

He stressed that suspects should be prosecuted openly in line with the law, rather than released through executive arrangements.

Warning of wider implications, Ejiofor said negotiating with armed groups from a position of weakness risks undermining state authority and could embolden violent groups to expand their influence if left unchecked.