The challenges of Okija ‘abattoir’
Even, as there exists a
remote possibility that
this article of mine may be construed as irritable in some quarters, I do perceive, nonetheless, a compelling imperative, that all the right thinking people of this country should reason together in order to avert the cataclysmic consequences that would, most certainly befall this nation, should a halt is not put to this barbaric discovery.
Wonders they say shall never stop. What can one actually say about the discovery of human abattoir in Okija, Anambra state? If the truth must be told, and there’s absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t, the discovery is ignominious, disconsolate, ignoble and diabolical. It is an antithesis of all known virtues of modern civilization.
In this 21st century and digital age where scientists are striving to catalyze the development of human skills, behavior and attitudes to enable them land and live in space and other planetary bodies, a group of people still engage in activities that could be associated with the Old Stone Age.
To further exacerbate this unfortunate incidence, the Secretary General of the Pan Igbo socio-cultural organiz-ation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Col. Joe Achuzie (rtd) was dissipating energy in defending and giving legiti-macy to this barbaric and doleful act with high level of prolificacy .
In his argument, Achuzie averred that the discovery in Okija was not new in the country’s tradition and was therefore astonished why the police should report it in the first instance. In his imagination, the police in carrying out their civic responsibility were out step-ping their bounds and were out to tarnish the image of Igbo people. Also, he menti-oned that Okija shrine had ‘been reputed for justice in the settlement of disputes arising among people.
Besides, he wondered why the discoveries should be made an issue especially when no body has said that they kill people there. In his words, “the human parts and skulls, which they discov-ered are merely those who had sworn at the place and apparently found guilty and were killed not by any human being but the gods.”
The arguments above put forward by Achuzie are very silly, inane and lack any reasonable logic. Firstly, if people are in disputes, why can’t they go to the law court rather than resorting to the shrine and depending on the gods for justice? Secondly, deriving from the narration of the man that revealed the atrocities perpetrated at the Okija shrine, the human corpses and skulls found at the shrine were those actually killed by human beings. It may not be out of place to conclude that some of the people declared missing in the country actually ended up at the shrine.
Thirdly, Achuzie needs to keep himself abreast of the constitutional duties of the police to better appreciate that they have not in any way acted ultra vires.
Fourthly, contrary to his insinuation and fear that Igbo people will be labeled as cannibals, no right thinking man will do that because there are men and women of Igbo extraction who are honourable and God fearing. We are not condemning the 1gbo people but the act perpetrated at the shrine. Thus, while it will be wrong to say that the 1gbos are cannibals, the act perpetrated can be called ‘spiritual cannibalism’
The quest for quick wealth, power and fame has created a mode of behaviour in the country that no longer has respect for human life. Stories abound of people who used their mothers; wives and children for money making rituals. We have equally heard stories of human inhumanity to fellow human beings perpetrated by secret societies, cultists and other devilish organizations. What does it profit a man to own the whole world and lose his sense of humanity and soul?
There is imperative need for us in this country as a people to change our value system. We should stop to worship wealth without bordering to know the source otherwise we will continue to encourage and give impetus to all these devilish activities.
This bizarre discovery may have a far reaching impli-cation on our quest to foster greater unity and social integration in the country. It may also affect the effort of the federal government at bringing Foreign Direct Investment to the country.
While the arduous task of cleansing the murky Augean stable which this discovery represents is truly gargan-tuan and intimidating, I do discern, notwithstanding, that it is not insurmountable.
Verily, our Lord is great and bounteously merciful. This discovery certainly couldn’t have been by a mere stroke of happenstance, but God Almighty is ready to close this particularly poig-nant chapter in the history of the nation.
The most intriguing and challenging aspect discovery is to unravel the real reason for this savagery, identify the people behind it and bring them to justice.
Furthermore, the gover-nment must continually strive to put an end to all myster-ious and ritual killings. Any-body associated either remotely or directly with such dastardly act should pay the supreme price.
In addition, the law enfor-cement agents, particularly, the Nigerian Police must immediately swing into action to comb every nook and cranny of this country in order to expose this human abattoir wherever they may be.
Lastly, there is the need to assure the international community that Nigeria is not peopled by barbarians, but civilized, warm and kind hearted people.
Abubakar, is a Chartered Accountant,and writes from Abuja
NEXT... |
|
|
