i think we’ve all heard about
the ALUU killings..? The ALUU
killings which went viral
online few months ago…. its
a barbaric and extremely
shameful are the words I
can use to describe the
gruesome killing of four
UNIPORT students.
The deed has been done, but
are we sure that would be
the last, would there not be
a repeat Are we just
going to talk about it till it
becomes stale?
There are lessons to be
learnt. I have some to offer:
A FAILED POLICE FORCE
1) We have lost faith in our
Police Force, if we still believe
in them, the boys would
have been taken to the
Police Station, and everyone
would be rest assured that
the case would be handled
well. Can you imagine, the
Policemen on ground
complained that they didn’t
have enough bullets to scare
the mob away? The Police
has failed us, Aluu is not a
remote village, and this
barbaric act lasted for about
four hours.
- We need a total overhaul of
our Police Force, an a re-
introduction of it should
carefully mapped out.
LACK OF VALUE FOR LIFE
2) Life has little or no value
in Nigeria. It is a normal
thing to hear about deaths
in different parts of Nigeria
on daily basis. Yet the
stinking aroma of unconcern
is everywhere. We have
become so used to the news
of death, that it no longer in
any way, affects us. As far as
none of our relatives were
killed, its none of our
business. We have become
lovers of that part of the
bible which says ‘a thousand
shall fall by my right hand
and ten thousand by my left,
but none shall come near
me’. We have become silent,
beaten into intimidation by
recurring death news.
- Its time we use our mouths
and shout at the top of our
voices, then we would be
heard. Use every platform
available, facebook, twitter,
bbm, let them know that, in
our own little way, we are
noisemakers…and can make
a lot of noise.
SOCIAL MEDIA – A DEADLY
TOOL
3) Many have complained
that the killing should not
have been videotaped. I
totally disagree. Whoever
taped it and uploaded it
online did the whole world a
favour. The video brought a
different side to the killing.
Many watched it and
vomited, others recoiled in
horror, others cried. The
video was the main evidence
in the hands of the Police. It
motivated people to join the
cause and take a stand. Many
top govt officials actually
watched, and were not just
told the story.
- Now we can see the power
of social media. The video
immediately became popular
with so many hits on
youtube. Those people who
someone called the idle and
idling, twittering, collective
children of anger the
distracted crowd of
facebook addicts, the BBM-
pinging soap opera gossips
of Nigeria are the ones
actually pushing for justice…
(I think we need a new
name).
LEADERSHIP
4) If this had happened in
‘Oyimbo’ land. John Maxwell,
popular author on issues
about leadershipwould have
written a book on how to
handle crisis as a leader. It is
sad and painful, that there
was actually a man, who
could have done the right
thing. The Community Leader
or Community Killer, Chief
Hassan Walewa, refused to
be a leader at such critical
moment and became the
lowest follower…what a
shame. He stood back and
allowed such a thing on his
turf.
- People who are in
leadership are supposed to
be calm, and think straight
when everything and
everyone around them is
burning up.
LEAVE JUDGEMENT TO GOD
5) I agree that our judicial
system also has a part to
play in this brouhaha. The
mob must have felt that the
court process of convicting
the boys would be slow and
corrupt, and so decided to
pronounce judgement. Even
if the boys were guilty, What
gave them the right, are
they, themselves pure and
holy. Remember, ‘let not the
kettle call the pot black’. No
wonder God decided to take
full control of the jurisdiction
of judgement.
- I believe in the law and
state. I believe in the
judgement of the court.
Though, mistakes are
inevitable and sometimes,
the innocent cry and the
guilty laugh, but it is still a
better bargain when
compared to jungle justice.
Even animals are not treated
that way.
MISGUIDED ANGER
6) It is very obvious that the
people who committed the
beastly act were frustrated.
They were fuelled by poverty,
a failed system,
unemployment, insecurity,
and so they pounded the
boys with their frustrations.
Listening carefully to the
sound from the video clip,
you would hear the
villagerstalking about how
rich the boys were. A hint of
jealousy is very much
obvious. To them, what they
were doing was justified.
They were killing the rich
and corrupt people…(The
Robin Hood Idea). They were
ridding the country of the
bad eggs..very funny.
- If only they had known…if
only they had known. The
real corrupt people do not
send their children to
schools in Nigeria. They
wear white agbada and
white cap to match. They are
heads of conglomerates, and
are always awarded National
Honours. Their anger was
misplaced, misguided and
directed at the wrong
people. We complain about
our failed state, let’s talk to
the government, let’s
demand for our rights, let’s
tell them that we don’t have
jobs, we don’t feel safe, let’s
shout it out with one voice
and not keep shut and
wallow in painful silence,
then pour out our pain on
helpless individuals. Yet we
kill ourselves and feel good
about it.
Our future is bleeding.