By Titus Eleweke
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has commended Nigerian security agencies for the reported rescue of 315 Nigerians abducted by jihadist terrorists in coordinated operations across Kwara, Niger and Ogun States.
Ejiofor, in his Weekend Musings titled “The Rescue of 315 Abducted Nigerians: A Victory Against Terror, a Painful Indictment of Our National Conscience,” described the operation as a demonstration of courage, professionalism and sacrifice by security personnel.
He, however, urged the Federal and State Governments to go beyond celebrating the rescue by providing comprehensive rehabilitation and support for the victims.
Ejiofor particularly called for special attention to children rescued from the terrorists’ camps, including those born during captivity, stressing that they should not be blamed for the circumstances of their birth.
He advocated psychosocial support, counselling, education, healthcare, housing assistance and livelihood programmes to help victims rebuild their lives.
According to him, reports that some of the rescued women were pregnant or had given birth during their approximately six months in captivity highlight the severe trauma suffered by the victims.
He said rescue should only be regarded as the beginning of the rehabilitation process, noting that the psychological scars of captivity could remain long after physical freedom had been restored.
Ejiofor also urged the government to strengthen intelligence gathering, community policing, inter-agency cooperation and the nation’s overall security architecture to prevent future mass abductions.
He said the true measure of national security should not be the number of hostages rescued, but the number of citizens protected from falling into captivity in the first place.
The lawyer called the rescue a “solemn national awakening,” urging authorities to ensure that Nigerians can live without the fear of abduction and terrorism.
Tags: Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Abductees, Terrorism, National Security, Nigeria
