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| Tekena Elkanah |
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| Chiadika Biringa |
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| Ugonna Obuzor |
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| Michael Lloyd Toku |
In the days since Tekena Elkanah, Michael Toku, Chiadika Biringa and Ugonna Obuzor were bludgeoned, then set ablaze, multiple variations of this story have emerged. Depending on which one you heard, these boys were either armed robbers who had terrorized the residents of Aluu for months; going as far as killing a man as he tried to prevent his daughter or pregnant wife from being raped. Or, they were notorious cultists who were in the neighborhood to oppress residents and/or collect dues from other cult members. Or they were petty thieves who had stolen laptops and cell phones. Or they were innocent students, three of whom had accompanied the fourth to the residence of someone who owed him money. The debtor, not willing to cooperate, alerted the community of his visitors by yelling, "thief, thief." As Nigerians know, this action typically draws a large crowd, especially in large public areas like roadside markets, who take it upon themselves to execute jungle justice on the alleged criminals without necessarily confirming the fact. Another version of the story cites a fifth man who was fortunate enough to get away, however the only confirmed story so far is that these four young men are indeed dead.
I saw the pictures of this barbaric act circling the internet and was disturbed by how so many people could stand by and watch as these boys were executed in such a gruesome way. But it was even more disconcerting to learn about video footage making the rounds. I watched one of such videos, seeking some kind of explanation to this story that I knew still pictures wouldn't provide. And now I am haunted. I am haunted by the bloodied eyes of one of the victims. Unable to move any other part of his body as he sensed his end was near, he barely managed to blink his eyes slowly, once or twice, using them to plead for mercy. I can never forget that.
I can never forget the way the last of the victims remained slightly upright; somewhat defiantly, as he propped himself up with his elbow, refusing to succumb to his inevitable fate. And then one of the perpetrators, the one who joyfully pounded away as others watched without flinching, set the boys ablaze. That last boy who refused to go down, got up one more time and rolled away to get away from the fire. He refused to give up. I can’t forget this video. It’s worse than the videos of men in the middle east, stoning women to death for their alleged promiscuity. I cringed and flinched when I saw those women dropping down. I thought the worst about those men. I never thought I’d see my own countrymen commit even worse atrocities. I weep for Nigeria.
We may never know if these guys were truly armed robbers, cultists, rapists, petty thieves, or just innocent students in the wrong place and at the wrong time. It doesn’t matter now, because few members of a community already decided that no matter what, they were no longer fit to walk this earth. Make no mistakes, this isn't the first time alleged criminals have been convicted by street justice. In the past, others have suffered similar fates usually by being burned alive. This, however, is the first time most people have witnessed such extreme torture by bludgeoning them to death. It wasn't OK then, and it certainly shouldn't be tolerated now. It is time this phenomenon of jungle justice is condemned.
Acclaimed Nigerian rapper M.I. respectfully put things in perspective with this piece he posted on his blog. Nigeria has become a nation of complacency built on hope. As long as we are not personally affected by a problem or issue, we turn a blind eye to it while hoping someone takes care of the solution. This apathy has to end.
So do not believe the above picture circulating of the alleged killers being tortured. I received this picture more than a month ago with a different explanation behind it. These are not the four boys' killers. Do not let your cries for justice be silenced so this story doesn't go away quietly. Several such incidents have occurred where innocent victims were killed over false allegations, but it takes just one case to put an end to this madness. Let this be the one. Innocent or guilty, let the Aluu four become the symbol for putting an end to jungle justice.
Here is another unconfirmed version from an anonymous comment made on another blog, about what may have happened in the moments leading up to these boys' death.
ReplyDeleteUgonna borrowed a guy some money (between 200k - 500k) with an agreed time to be paid back. But alas, he gets treated in a hanky-panky attitude by the debtor which always results to the debtor - an Aluu indegene - either threatening him or appearing absence each time Ugonna goes to tax him. It was on that faithful fiday morning (6am) he decides to go along accompaning him Timi Kay, Big L, Aladdin and Charles. Getting to the debtors house, there was arguement of which an agreement was finally reached between Ugonna and the debtor of which Ugonna happens to collect the debtors laptop, making up his mind to only give it back once the debtor pays up (its normal in any university setting). But the debtor being an Aluu indegene and comes from Ikwerre (a tribe that thrives in oppressing other tribes in Rivers state except Ogoni, Bonny and Kalabari) knowing he has upper hand as an indegene, happens to know most of the vigilante group securing Aluu, screaming that Ugonna and his friends were thieves since that's the only possible way to get outta the whole debt issue and get back his laptop. Within a moment, there was security men everywhere but Charles managed to escape, abandoning the rest of his friends to their fate. Now, ever wondered why the debtor insisted on killing those four guys? Its simply because he knows that dead men tells no tales and that's the only possible means to get outta paying up the amount borrowed. Ugonna coming from a rich family, isn't concerned about the money, but felt that he shouldn't be treated the way he's being treated by the debtor. Ugonna is a big boy. Being the only son of his parents, he has everything he can ever want. Ugonna, lloyd, Chidiaka and Tekena, after being beaten blue and black, was taken to the Aluu chief whom again, the debtor insisted that these innocent four guys are criminals and deserves to be killed with fear that they will come back for him on a later occassion. And why did the Aluu chief play along with the debtor? Its simply cos he's also an Aluu indegene (ikwerre tribe) - whom are good at playing along with eachother except you're from another tribe. Big L, Tipsy, Timi Kay and Aladdin, were beaten to death before setting ablaze. And that's the story. I'm a popular guy in my school and the story I just told you is what really happened. Anything contrary to this that you may have read up from somewhere is just pure bunkum and a made-up tale. The fact that those four dudes weren't with any weapon says it all. Not just that, but who on earth robs around 6am? And which armed robber robs in his neighboorhood where he's known? That's the case of those innocent four guys...