It was a bizarre sight to behold. I had nausea watching the video on the internet as it had gone viral almost immediately. How cruel can people be,I thought. That was by far the most barbaric scene I had seen in a while.
Chidiaka Biringa,Ugonna Obuzor,Tekena Elkanah and Lloyd Michael all of university of portharcout had their lives brutally cut short in Umuokiri-Aluu community in Rivers State on the 5th of october 2012.
It was reported that someone owed one of the victims,Obuzor,some money,he asked his friends to accompany him to Aluu to collect the debt. One thing led to another,they were accused of being thieves,beaten to a pulp and afterwards roasted alive.
It took a while,we understand,before they were killed. They were beaten and dragged along to where they were finally set on fire.The killers had the whole time in the world to perpetuate this carnage. The question that begged for an answer was,where on earth our police was while this mob justice was going on? We have not had any concrete answer till today,and they are supposed to watch over us?
Nine months on,and one is wont to ask what the situation report is as regards the case. You see,we as a people tend to forget this kind of things(or is it everything) so easily. There of course is the initial hue and cry and that’s it. No one gets to ask questions after that,everything dies down and we move on. No one thinks about the families and their pains any longer.
It was reported that eighteen people were arrested in connection with this barbaric act and seven of them were discharged by the court. What’s with the remaining eleven,nine months on?
We understand the judge handling the case announced her withdrawal claiming her hands were tied as she was between the devil and the deep blue sea. She,according to reports,knows both the accused persons as well as the victims and does not want to be seen as being in favour of any of the parties. This we understand happened in April of this year. The question then is,since this barbaric act happened in october last year,when did she take charge of the case? Was it immediately the suspects were caught last year?
If so, why is she just realizing in April of this year that she is close to the supposed killers and the families of the victims? If not,was she just put in charge of the case? If yes, Why the delay several months after the killings and the arrests of the supposed killers? Has trial even started in the first place? The justice system has to be faster than this. One just hopes this case does not get buried and forgotten.
Justice in this case will also check a repeat of this Mob justice. Justice needs to be done,and soon,so the boys can finally rest in peace,and their families can get rest, knowing that the killers of their boys are where they are suppose to be-Jail or hell.
Chiechefulam Ikebuiro
thalynxis@yahoo.ca