By Jude Abaga
The way they lay there, beaten and broken, battered and bruised. Knowing their end had come for certain. Knowing that the crowd meant to see this through to the end. And yet, in the midst of all this certainty, in some small corner of their hearts, hoping. That something would happen, some miracle perhaps.
I am speaking of course, of the #Aluu4, students of University of Port Harcourt who were beaten and set ablaze last week.
I’d heard the news sometime last week and devoted all of 10 seconds of thought to it. I wondered briefly who the students were, and what could possibly have driven them to steal. I briefly wondered if they were really guilty but my mind quickly shied away from where that road could lead. I remembered all the stories I grew up hearing about thieves and the instant justice meted out to them, and mentally shook my head.
That would have been all, I suppose, but for the video. It is probably the most gruesome thing I have ever seen, and the worst I ever hope to see.
Hope.
There, I’ve said it again. Somehow it seems there is no escaping it.
Because when things like this happen, it seems our default reaction is to hope it will never happen to us or any one we know or love. Then we hope that our religion and hard work and luck will exempt us from senseless suffering. Sometimes we hope that right thing will be done, the wrong doers brought to book, and the victims receive some sort of justice.
Every day we hope the country we live in will be a better place for us and for our children.
And that is the problem with hope.
That we have allowed it to cripple us and render us inactive.
You, me, all of us who sit by hoping and doing nothing to change.
The question is not whether or not the 4 boys stole anything. That is quite besides the point.
Let us ask instead: What do I need to ensure my children do not grow up hearing stories like these?
What would it cost to make this country and are we willing to pay the price?
Because if I were there that day, would I have spoken up and done my best to put a stop to it? Or silently stood by, condemning the actions in my heart, but doing nothing? Would I have been seized by the bloodlust and fear and anger myself, and spurred them on with my shouts, and cries for blood, maybe tossed in a rock or two for good measure.
The society is a mirror of each of us. It is sad and sickening that this was allowed to happen. It shows us all what we are capable of, what we will each do given the right set of circumstances.
These 4 murdered men, their deaths should not be in vain. If anything good could come out of a mess so sordid, let it be that every Nigerian begins to think about the problem and what to do to solve it. Let it be that we understand the problem is ourselves and our failure to take a stand against injustice and lawlessness over the years. Let it be that we promise ourselves never to let this happen again. Not on our land. Not as long as we’re alive.
I hope this time we get it right.
5 comments
we pledge to nigeria our country to be faithful-loyal and honest. To be honest, is what happening every second in nigeria worth to be loyal,fold hands and watch? To defend her UNITY . This line struck Me! Unity in killing and destroying leader and hope of our tomorrow, (youths)40mobi and 4aluu all students whose parents stood under d hash sun and rain to send to school. Where is the LOVE? Cruelties and hatred has taken over d surface of my country and who is be blame ? God of d poor and rich , love and peace are u watching? Ur word said on isaih about d thought u have 4US . Love, peace and to give us our expected end. Is ugonna,lloyd,tek and chideaka exempt? And not askin u question God but tears in my hrt is stopping Me from breathing fine. I’m thinking if we ar now another journey to d end of time- peace to nigerians .
NIGERIA IS D SUSPECT. The force, peopl assigned to keep life and properties . D police , jtf, patrol terms, crime squad and all forces in nigeria are all suspect. Let no body tell Me to shut UP, unless u want to kill me As d 4bright future under graduate of UP. Come to think of it why should a reasonable citizen wit good hrt tell to keep quit? Since friday my mind and eyes have being battling when i tries to figure out why there guys should be killed by this WAY. Aluu’s said d stole just handset and laptop -hmm ar we thinking at all ? And cos of sets u lit up a human being while still breathing . I imagin d shout , abeg bros, i’m not a thief, God help me and alot shout dat this guys was shouting ! And yet they couldn’t reach to Any help. I was thinking if i could have lil power like God to revenge but vengeance is of d lord not n any mans hands cos al ar SUSPECT. Don’t tell there is not force station around aluu or was force scared of aluu’ s too. Every human being have long life span in him, i ask where was all d near by police officer, jtf and so on when dis guys where being paraded naked from a DISTANCE, did al of d security forces on leave wen dis guys wher being beating ? The Ans is they ar all SUSPECTS. Cos before d death of dis guys hours of 2 to 3 was involved . Even 1hour is enough for police to rush to check point and make thousands of naira out of 20naira illegally collected. But de failed to show up in these guys cases. We have no security apart from God. I even heard from one of d guy mom da it was An officer who stopped her from gaining reach to his burnt SON immediately and stil don’t want to believ da they all SUSPECT. Let stop fooling ourselves lookin for d suspects. peace to nigeria
In d face of dis indelibl Gruesome and inhumane act, one question posed in my,”Even if d students are guilty of d acusation, is d Brutal death they were subjectd to comensurate 2 the alleged crime? Vehement NO. Evn Christ Jesus said 2 d bloodtaste mamoth crowd (jst like Aluu village) “If u knw u hav no sin, be d 1st 2 cast a stone” Luk into d lives of d murderers of diz 4 energetic Studnts & u’ll realize hw filthy & guilty they cn be wen compared 2 d lives of d victims,@ least, their fearles act of murder testifies 2 my claim. Pls, let JUSTICE be don NOW, cos “The Man died in he dat keeps quiet in d face of Tyranny (Soyinka)
Thanks 2 Voices like our Jude Abaga (M.I), 4 quick response in vehement condemnation of dis Dastardly & inhumane act. U stnd out as not only d Entertainin Voice bt also d Voice of d Oppressed. Ur heartfelt sympathy attests 2 dis. More Power 2 ur elbow. U’re indeed one of d Hopes of Rejuvenation!
gud talk abaga! we hope in hope n out of hope dat dis hopeless killing will hopefully not happen in dis hopeless
country were hope is a mirage n hoping even in dream becomes a hopeless nightmare.
those boys hoped against hope dat even in d very last seconds hope will come. but the only hope d had was a crowd of hopeless people watching n enjoying the “papa lolo show”, laughing n filming our human beings like all
of dem struggling to live. not one person among dat big crowd dat included mothers n sister cud cry out for mercy. with all d money spent in Rivers for security (RRS, JTF & Police force) put together,
non could come to der rescue rather d looked d other way round. may God judge both the participators, spectators and the security agents dat turn d other way during d hopeless situation.