By Nwabueze Okonkwo
ONITSHA — Social critic and legal practitioner, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq., has described the image of 27 coffins from a recent mass burial as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and the need for urgent action to protect citizens.
Ejiofor, in a statement titled “The Escalating Tide of Genocidal Atrocities: Mass Burial of 27 Victims of Jihadist Terror as Nigeria’s Conscience Stands Trial,” said the image was more than a photograph, describing it as a reflection of the human cost of recurring violence across the country.
He said the loss of innocent lives should provoke national reflection and collective action rather than temporary emotional reactions.
According to him, repeated attacks and mass killings risk becoming normalised when society fails to sustain attention and demand accountability.
“History teaches that every genocide begins with the normalization of repeated atrocities and the collective silence that follows them. Nigeria must resist travelling that perilous path,” he said.
Ejiofor said the continued loss of lives, whether described as terrorism, insurgency or criminality, points to a serious security crisis requiring sustained national attention.
He expressed concern that security challenges were increasingly being overshadowed by political activities and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The social critic also condemned reactions trailing the recent visit of Catholic bishops to the Presidency, saying religious leaders should be allowed to express concerns about national issues without being subjected to criticism or intimidation.
He argued that religious institutions have historically played a role in providing moral guidance and speaking on issues affecting society.
“A government genuinely committed to solving national problems should welcome sincere criticism, particularly from respected institutions whose only interest is the preservation of human dignity and national stability,” he said.
Ejiofor called on the Federal Government to make national security its foremost priority, urging the deployment of available resources, intelligence capabilities and constitutional mechanisms to address violent attacks.
He said Nigerians deserved more than condolences after tragedies, stressing the need for effective measures to prevent further loss of lives.
Recalling the recent mass burial conducted by the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Ejiofor said the ceremony represented the human consequences of attacks on communities.
He said reports indicated that the attack occurred at about 11pm on a Sunday night when armed assailants invaded Naridan, a farming community on the border between Kaduna State and Ganawuri in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He added that several people were reportedly killed, homes destroyed and residents displaced during the attack.
Ejiofor said the victims were ordinary Nigerians whose lives and aspirations were cut short by violence, urging authorities and citizens to work together towards restoring security and protecting communities.
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