A Killing Too Many – By Arnold A. Alalibo

Posted by admin Arnold Alalibo, Articles, Columnists, NNP Columnists Monday, September 5th, 2016

By Arnold A. Alalibo | NPP | Sept. 5, 2016 – The increasing spate of religious-induced killings in Nigeria and the ease with which the act is perpetrated is of particular concern to me and to all well-meaning Nigerians. These killings are indications that the country is ill and deserves urgent attention by every citizen.
I cannot but recall the brutal murder of a woman, Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor this year, who was on an early morning preaching assignment at Kubwa in Abuja. The dastardly act invoked strong emotions and reactions from Nigerians. Despite the widespread denunciations by prominent Nigerians at home and in diaspora, President Muhammadu Buhari failed to utter a word on the incident.
The recent murder of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime, a 74- year-old woman at the Kofar Wambai Market in Kano on June 2, 2016, is another case in point. The woman was killed before her husband by a mob after she was accused of blasphemy during a rift with a fellow trader in the market.
Two days earlier, another trader, Methodus Chimaije Emmanuel, was reportedly attacked and murdered by a mob in Niger State. The killers alleged that he posted a blasphemous statement on the social media. Though security agents intervened and restored order, the mob resumed hostilities a day after and killed more persons. The incident also claimed a church, a house and about 25 shops including a member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Similarly, on June 7, another mob brutally assailed a carpenter, Mr. Francis Emmanuel, at the Kakuri area of Kaduna metropolis in Kaduna State. His offence was his failure to participate in the last Ramadan fast even though it was clear to all that he was never a Muslim.
The most pathetic case of these wanton killings was the one that happened in Zamfara State on August 22, 2016. An angry mob lynched a Yoruba polytechnic student over allegation of blasphemy by a fellow Muslim student. A Muslim, who saw the pitiable condition of the victim and conveyed him to the hospital in his car, had both his shop and residential building set ablaze by the mob. The inferno claimed seven lives. Many more developments of this nature are reported almost on daily basis.
Unfortunately, after each incident, governments at various levels react by condemning the act and expressing resolves to deal with perpetrators. And that is where it ends. No arrest. No prosecution. There is so much unwillingness by the authorities to perform beyond the usual rhetoric of dealing with the culprits. These continuous killings reveal their statements as hypocritical and hollow.
For instance, when the Zamfara killings occurred, President Mohammadu Buhari condemned the incident and called it barbaric. The Zamfara State governor equally decried it and has since then been labouring to explain to Nigerians that what happened in his state was not a Muslim/Christian conflict. He said contrary to speculations that those killed were Christians, they were indeed Muslims.
The Kano incident also evoked a statement from President Buhari, who condemned the act and called for the prosecution of the offenders. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 11, also followed suit by denouncing the Kano killings; but none of the condemnations has ended the killers in court, not even the celebrated murderers of Mrs. Agbahime have been caught to face justice. Nothing has been heard of the case just as nothing more has been heard of the cases in Niger and Kaduna States.
As much as the president and the Sultan’s sentiments are appreciated, they remain empty words as long as they are unable to save the next victim. The failure of the Nigerian authorities to bring felons of this nature to face justice is responsible for the killings of innocent Nigerians over a so-called religious blasphemy. The absence of diligent trial and prosecution of these criminals have given them sufficient impetus to indulge in more of the crime.
There are many unreported cases of Nigerians, be they Christians or Muslims, who were savagely beheaded by a mob in a most primitive manner. This country cannot continue to take the patience and tolerance of its law-abiding citizens, particularly Christians, who are always the victims of this barbarism, for granted. Government has to understand that each incident of religious killing is potential dynamite and a slice on our corporate existence.
Blasphemy is a criminal offence under the laws of our land. Section 204 of the Criminal Code Act prohibits it and prescribes punishment for the offence. Therefore, rather than resort to jungle justice whenever it is committed, blasphemy-related offences should be reported to law enforcement agents for action.wp_posts