By Ifeoma Ejiofor
Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in the custody of suspected bandits as disturbing evidence of a nation at war with itself.
Ejiofor questioned the rationale behind negotiating with bandits while, according to him, hundreds of innocent Igbo youths remain in detention under what he described as wrongful categorisation.
In a statement titled, “Weekend Musings: The Dangerous Hypocrisy of Negotiating with Terror,” Ejiofor said military service once represented the highest expression of national loyalty, recalling a time when the uniform of a soldier commanded reverence rather than sympathy.
He noted that there was a period in Nigeria’s history when patriotism was seen as an honour and military service was regarded as a sacred calling.
“Those were years before hypocrisy became institutionalised, before ethnic distrust became weaponised, before insecurity became commercialised, and before public officials were routinely accused of compromising with forces determined to dismantle the very nation they swore solemnly to defend,” Ejiofor said.
According to him, joining the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria symbolised discipline, sacrifice, courage, honour, and an unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity and unity.
Ejiofor said it was reasonable to assume that these ideals inspired the late Major General Rabe Abubakar and many of his contemporaries to embrace military service.
He expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency of some state authorities to engage armed bandits through negotiations, accommodations and informal arrangements, warning that such actions undermine genuine counterterrorism efforts.
“In several of my previous interventions, I have expressed grave concern regarding the increasing tendency of certain state authorities to engage armed bandits through negotiations, accommodations, understandings and arrangements which many Nigerians have consistently viewed as dangerous, counterproductive and fundamentally incompatible with any serious counterterrorism strategy,” he stated.
Ejiofor further noted that the Minister of Defence had publicly maintained that neither government officials nor state governments should negotiate with terrorists or bandits. However, he said reports and public perceptions suggest such engagements continue despite official denials.
The human rights lawyer also expressed shock over reports indicating that the Katsina State Government attributed the death of Major General Rabe Abubakar in captivity to what it described as “natural causes.”
He argued that the development raises troubling questions about Nigeria’s security architecture and the apparent contradictions in the country’s response to terrorism and banditry.
Ejiofor maintained that the tragic death of the retired general should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to adopt a more coherent and uncompromising strategy in tackling insecurity across the country.
