Human rights lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor has criticized the reported release of 70 suspected bandits and jihadist terrorists by the Katsina State government, describing the move as a dangerous policy that could further destabilize Nigeria.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ejiofor said the release, allegedly under the guise of a “peace accord,” rewards violence and substitutes justice with expediency, sending a message that armed groups and lawlessness are viable bargaining tools. He questioned whether the federal government and security agencies were complicit or tacitly approving the action, urging Nigerians to demand a constitutionally grounded explanation.

Ejiofor contrasted this with the continued unlawful detention of thousands of Igbo citizens, including the recent death of Mrs. Calista Ifedi in DSS custody, highlighting what he called a systemic injustice. He called on South-East governors to investigate and ensure accountability for detainees held without trial.

Warning of the broader implications, Ejiofor said negotiating from a position of fear risks ceding state sovereignty to terrorists, emboldening violent actors instead of neutralizing them. He expressed concern that further releases of detained terrorists are reportedly being negotiated, describing Nigeria as “precariously upon a keg of gunpowder.”

The controversy stems from a “SECRET” letter dated January 2, 2026, from the Katsina State Ministry of Justice requesting the release of suspects as part of a peace deal with bandits. The state government defended the move as a measure to sustain peace agreements and facilitate the release of abductees, claiming that accords across 15 local governments had already led to the liberation of about 1,000 kidnapped individuals.

Ejiofor urged immediate action by the Federal Government to halt initiatives that could institutionalize insecurity and compromise the nation’s stability.