Who Killed These Men and Women?

In Nigeria, more so in the last thirty years, killing has become a way of life. Depending on the regime in power, killings can either be a past time or a trade. The government and or some elements within the Nigerian State, has been killing those they hate, envy or are tired of. For instance, when the Nigerian government didn’t know what to do with Dele Giwa they blew him up. When they didn’t know what to with Ken Saro-Wiwa, they cooked up phony charges and then hanged him. When Alfred Rewane was becoming a thorn on their flesh, they silenced him. Along with these eminent citizens are dozens of unsung Nigerians who were also murdered by the state or by individuals within the state. Nigeria is probably the only country in Sub-Sahara Africa were human life means nothing; it is perhaps the only country were humans are slaughtered the way chickens are slaughtered. Humans are swatted the way one would a housefly. Killing is done without feelings, without regards and without remorse. For a buck -- for a lousy buck -- you could lose your life. You may lose your life if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. Instead of legal actions in the court of law, people resort to extralegal actions. Instead of justice, there is jungle-justice. The level of intolerance is such that unknowingly stepping on toes could cost one his or her life. Living is so expensive; life has become cheap.

Three years after Jerry Agbeyegbe was killed, the police have yet to successfully resolve his murder. In their murky attempt to resolve his murder, they almost soiled his reputation. Today the case remains an unresolved homicide. Who killed Sunday Ugwu, Momoh Lawal, Odunayo Olagbaju and Janet Oladapo? Who killed them? Who killed Ahmed Pategi and his police orderly? And who killed Victor Nwankwo, the younger brother of Arthur Nwankwo? I wonder if any murder case has ever been conclusively and satisfactorily resolved in Nigeria.

I have wondered in the past: how many Nigerians have to lose their lives before this government comes to the realization that something is terribly wrong with our security and legal system? Why do we have a government -- when government can not assure us of our safety? Beyond the obvious, this is a sad commentary on us as a nation because, even in peace time, Nigeria is like a country in perpetual war mode. Only in times of war do people lose their lives. Only in times of war, do parents bury their children. Only in times of war does the populace live in unending fear. Only in times of war and political instability does anarchy rein supreme. But not so in Nigeria.

There are several ways to be killed in Nigeria including but not limited to firing squad, parcel-bombing, hanging, tea or food poisoning, armed-robbery style killing, staged vehicular accidents, and deliberate road-side shooting. Sadly, this is the situation in today’s Nigeria. It is one thing to be known as a nation of the parasitically corrupt; but quite another to be known as a nation of callous and cold-blooded murderers.
Harry Marshall’s death is still unresolved even though the evidence seems to points to the River State government house. Who killed Kudirat Abiola, John Nunu, Funsho Williams, Chimere Ikoku, Ayodeji Daramola, Dele Arojo and Isyaku Muhammad? With the passing of each month the list grows longer and longer and longer. Who killed Udo Marcus Akpan, Ogbonnaya Uche, Theodore Agwatu, and Emily Omope? And who can forget the killing of Abigail and Barnabas Igwe -- the husband and wife team who devoted their lives to the betterment of humanity. And does anyone know who killed Bala Mohammed? In a very positive manner Bala was amongst the very first who caught my young and impressionable political mind.

Fresh Crisis Spreads In Jos

Despite the calmness, initially experienced yesterday in jos, renewed hostilities occurred at Rikkos, Bauchi ring-road, Ali Kazaurf, Congo Russia and Katako area of Jos this morning. According to our correspondent, with the resumption of hostilities in Jos this morning, Plateau State government in consultation with the state security council, reviewing prevailing situation in Jos metropolis has directed the immediate imposition of a twenty-four hour curfew in Jos and Bukuru. According to a police official, who declined to be identified, said as many as 60 people may have been killed since Sunday when clashes started Police initially imposed a nighttime curfew on Jos on Sunday to ease tensions and prevent a repeat of the November 2008 clashes that killed hundreds of residents. But violence flared up again on Tuesday, forcing the police to extend its curfew. In a statement by commissioner for information and communication, Gregory Yenlong, residents are advised to adhere strictly to the directive. "In view of this situation in town, I hereby declare a 24-hour curfew starting from now," said Gregory Anyating, the state's police commissioner.

Nigerian hospital 'overwhelmed by corpses from police'

A Nigerian hospital has told the BBC it is overwhelmed by the number of corpses being brought to them by police.

The Chief Medical Director at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu says his staff are being forced to carry out mass burials.

The BBC has established that at least seven people were last seen alive in police custody, accused of kidnapping.

Enugu State Police Commissioner Mohamed Zarewa told the BBC he was too busy to talk about their case.

Nigeria's police have faced strong criticism from human rights groups for carrying out extrajudicial and arbitrary killings.

Amnesty international is presenting the results of a three-year investigation on Wednesday, in which they will describe the level of police killings as shocking.

The BBC has visited the morgue and taken photographs. The images are disturbing.

They show piles of young men, lying on top of one another and strewn about on tables and floors.

In places the corpses are stacked four or five deep.

Officers killed

Records show 75 corpses were delivered to the morgue by police between June and 26 November this year.