Killing of Students by Community

On Friday the 5th of October 2012, four students of the University of Port Harcourt Ugonna, Tekena, Lloyd and Chidiaka were badly beaten and burnt alive by residents of Aluu community for allegedly stealing phones and laptops in an off campus hostel.

The unarmed and slaughtered students were between 20 to 24 years old. They were beaten with sticks and any objects available, tied up and burnt without their attackers taking any measures to verify the charges against them or taking them to the Police.

The act of killing of students by the natives in the community where their off campus hostels are located is not new in Nigeria. It has been on for years from Ago-Iwoye to Ede, Owerri, Ilaro and all over the Country. I remembered two years ago when my daughter was still in Federal University of Technology, Owerri, a young lad from the community went into the hostel and demanded forcefully that a student give him his laptop. The student refused and was shot dead. His flatmates went to report the case to the community head immediately but the chief drove them away. When the students got angry, the villagers descended on the off campus hostel, killing, maiming and looting the hostel before setting it on fire. The same thing happened in Ago-iwoye, Ogun State University off campus hostel. There was a clash between the community and the students. Students were killed and properties destroyed.

These acts of killing of students by the communities where their off campus are sited, are barbaric and in-humane. No one deserves to die by burning in this age of civilization. From what i have read on net, Chiadika's father is well to do. He is a Management staff with Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I dont see why a boy from a rich home will go to steal forty thousand laptop when he can afford the latest ones. The bereaved father is said to be seeking divine intervention over the cruel fate that has befallen his beloved son. "I have handed over the murderers to God," he told a relative.

From the story making the rounds on the net, One of the four boys loaned huge sum of money to an indigene of the community, an Aluu boy who is his friend. The chap decided to play smart and not pay back. The boy on that faithful Friday morning went with his other 3 friends to surprise his debtor to ask of his money. An arguments ensued and the Aluu boy started shouting that the Uniport boys AND Cultists have come to attack him. The community came out with pestle, sticks, stones kerosine and tyres. They stripped them naked, beat them and set them ablaze. The unfortunate aspect is the village head seating down and presiding over the killing of these young men. My GOD! That is so wicked, barbaric and satanic. So unimaginable and unthinkable. This barbaric act must stop! We call on all decent Nigerians to join in the fight against senseless killing of young Nigerians. These guys are the great future leaders of this Country. No matter the offense or crimes committed, no one deserves to die that brutality. they should have been handed over to the Police. We call on the Federal Government to vigorously and urgently pursue the issue. It is good the State Government and the Police have waded in and some of the killers arrested. They should not go unpunished. Justice must be done this time around to serve as a deterrent to those who always take laws into their hands.