The recent massacre of four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) students and tagged criminals by the people of Aluu in Rivers State who became the prosecutor and the judge overnight in their own court of law has left many Nigerians and foreigners in a stupor of surprise and pangs of anger and righteous indignation. It had been shock, grief and lamentation since the judicial killings took place. Before the unfortunate incidence at Aluu, forty students were allegedly killed at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa State. Why killing innocent souls for no just cause especially future enlightened leaders? The action of the killers is embarrassing, degrading and has not only dented but denigrated our image nationally and internationally. It portrays red and black image in the practice of public relations.
Now that the Aluu community massacred four students for an unconfirmed allegation, which was not substantiated by a court of competent jurisdiction but the people of Aluu, who are now the real criminals, is it the Aluu community or the students? The jungle justice exhibited by Aluu people without following the appropriate procedure is condemnable, unprogressive, wicked and clear demonstration of not wanting or encouraging any good thing. To me, the people of Aluu are the criminals for going into wanton destruction of students by taking the law into their hands. What a dangerous dichotomy indeed!
Furthermore, the Federal and Rivers State governments should rise to the challenge of unmasking the real culprits behind the cowardly and dastardly act no matter how highly or lowly placed in the society and crushed them in a most exemplary manner to serve as deterrent to others who would ever think of engaging in such act. This is because the act is not only condemnable as it is despicable and regrettable putting Nigeria in bad light which is the very depth of abomination. Consequently, there is need for all Nigerians to always be religiously and jealously guided by the word of an elderstatesman, octogenarian and first executive president of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, a professional teacher, and career politician when he said and I quote “This moment of our history demands of all of us the spirit of tolerance and cooperation rather than the things that divide us, we will have succeeded in bequeathing a fitting legacy to the coming generation”.
However, let this be a time of sober reflection for us all. As Nigerians and international communities condemn the wicked act, let everybody look inward and reappraise what happened. Injustice and oppression cannot but ultimately produce a desire for revenge and or rebellion but the law of the land should be adequately applied. Let our deep sympathy go to all who lost their lives, persons and sense of security. Nigeria needs to be made safe for all; and the federal government should lead and show the way to this, purposefully and decisively especially through its security agencies.
In my opinion, all progressive and articulate Nigerians irrespective of religion, tribe and status must dislodge the idea of being agents of darkness and destruction. In this connection therefore, it is absolutely necessary with due respect, humility and sense of responsibility to appeal to all Nigerians to remain steadfast, focused on the path of truth, honour, fairness and justice so that Nigeria can make meaningful progress economically and politically in our current democratic structure under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, popularly referred to as “GEJ”.
With these recent killing of students in Port Harcourt and Mubi, one may say that Nigeria’s democracy is therefore dangerous if the massacre is not properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to face the music. If not it might lead to a stage that the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and that things will fall apart. This is not the best for Nigeria’s democratic structure. In the words of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, “Justice must be done to the poor and oppressed and if the present system does not serve the purpose, the public conscience must be roused to demand another”. In other words, the federal government needs to investigate thoroughly if there was crassa negligentia, that is, gross negligence by any person or group of persons that would have helped to stop the killings and then follow due process. Let us not make Nigeria a sick country by our actions.
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Charles Ikedikwa Soeze, fhnr, fcida, fcai, cpae, son, emba, ksq.
is a Mass Communication Scholar from first degree to doctoral level, public affairs analyst and Assistant Director (Administration)/Head, Academic and Physical Planning (A&PP) at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. (08036724193) charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
