Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has said the painful memories of those who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War remain deeply rooted in the hearts of the Igbo people.
Ejiofor made this known ahead of the May 30 Biafra Heroes Memorial Day set aside to honour victims of the Biafran War.
In a statement released on Monday titled “Monday Musings: The Approaching Days of Remembrance — A Solemn Reflection Before 30th May: Honouring the Fallen, Preserving the Truth, and Rekindling the Bonds of Alaigbo,” the lawyer described May 30 as a sacred and emotional date in Igbo history.
According to him, the remembrance period offers Ndi Igbo an opportunity for reflection, unity, and preservation of historical truth concerning the events that led to the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970.
Ejiofor stated that the season should serve as a time for sober reflection on the sacrifices, pain, resilience, and courage displayed by the Igbo people during the conflict.
He noted that millions of innocent civilians, mostly Igbos, lost their lives through war, starvation, displacement, and massacres following the 1966 anti-Igbo pogroms in different parts of Nigeria.
“Entire families were wiped out, communities destroyed, and countless children became symbols of hunger before the international community,” he said.
The IPOB counsel maintained that the killings of Easterners in 1966 created fear and insecurity that eventually led to the declaration of Biafra in May 1967.
He also warned against attempts to distort historical facts surrounding the civil war, insisting that truth and accountability must be preserved for future generations.
Ejiofor specifically criticized narratives he claimed sought to downplay the massacres and political events that triggered the conflict, stressing that such issues must be examined with honesty and objectivity.
He further urged Ndi Igbo to use the remembrance period to promote reconciliation, brotherhood, and unity rather than division.
According to him, the greatest tribute to fallen heroes is not merely through speeches and ceremonies, but by rebuilding the spirit of solidarity, communal responsibility, and shared purpose among Igbo people.
“The sacrifices of those who died during the Biafran War should inspire unity, justice, protection of one another, and preservation of our heritage,” he stated.
Ejiofor called on Igbo sons and daughters across the world to approach the May 30 remembrance with wisdom, restraint, and dignity while honouring the memories of the deceased.
He concluded with prayers for the souls of those who lost their lives during the war to continue to rest in peace.
