Human rights lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor has condemned a viral video allegedly showing National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) officials looting shops at the Ogbo Ogwu market in Onitsha, Anambra State. He described the footage as evidence of a serious injustice that demands urgent investigation, justice, and compensation for affected traders.
Ejiofor, lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), criticized NAFDAC’s closure of Ogbo Ogwu and surrounding markets, calling it an indiscriminate action under the pretense of combating counterfeit drugs.
“While the fight against fake pharmaceuticals is essential, it must be conducted lawfully and ethically, without destroying the livelihoods of innocent traders. Unfortunately, our worst fears have now been realized,” he stated.
He expressed frustration over the lack of action despite his earlier calls for security agencies and NAFDAC to investigate those implicated in the allegations. According to him, the newly surfaced video clearly shows officials entrusted with regulatory enforcement engaging in outright looting and betraying public trust.
Ejiofor also highlighted the plight of a devastated trader, whose emotional distress from the incident reportedly led to hospitalization. He emphasized that this is not just an economic attack but an assault on human dignity and well-being.
He urged security agencies to conduct a swift, transparent, and thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable. He also called on NAFDAC to provide adequate compensation to the affected traders, ensuring that justice is both served and felt.
