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DailyPost Editorial: Murder of UNIPORT students: Questions Aluu Community must answer

By on October 6, 2012

“How much is life worth in Nigeria?” was the question the publisher of DailyPost asked, when some pictures were sent to our news desk from the scene of the gruesome murder of three students of the University of Port Harcourt, namely Ugonna, Tekana and Chidiaka.

No. They were not Boko Haram militants and they were not suicide bombers either. If you care to know, they were also not armed, and they didn’t kill or harm anybody. Aside the sketchy information we got that they stole a laptop and a phone, the only thing we could see as presented pictorially, was a group of jungle justice executors, heinously and reprehensibly smashing the heads of some promising young boys, placing tyres round their necks and going ahead to set them ablaze.

There is no doubt that Ugonna, Tekana and Chidiaka will curse the day they were born, considering their exit which DailyPost considers most painful. It was a painful death.

DailyPost like other media organizations, abhors in totality pilfering or any kind of societal crime. We have been in the vanguard of the campaign against crimes in Nigeria, especially as found amongst our young men and women. We are also not oblivious of the fact that “stealing is stealing”, no matter what was stolen, and whoever that is found guilty of such crime must be brought to book by the law.

However, the law says, “every criminal remains a suspect and innocent until proven guilty of the said crime. This is what the law says. It’s the law that guides us, hence we must all abide by it.

It is against this backdrop that DailyPost wishes to state that the human community is not a jungle; hence all the laws of that guide the society must be applied as against the animalistic justice of the jungle.

It is with this submission, that we advocate that those behind the gruesome murder of the 3 students of the University of Port Harcourt at Aluu community in Rivers State, deserve to face the wrath of the law.

It’s is totally unacceptable and completely out of the ordinary, for some people to have taken the laws into their hands in such a barbaric way. The question bothering us is, why will our country degenerate into such barbarity, brute and sadism? Why has it now become a norm in our country that when a crime is committed, the individuals become the police and the jurists themselves? Why have the streets and the market square become our law courts?

What we saw in the case of the three murdered students of the University of Port Harcourt, was a setup where some group of people organized themselves into Court officials, lawyers, judges and the police. They were clearly engaged in the most terrifying and horrible kind of investigation and apprehension which led to a hasty trial and the eventual execution of the poor students, and we ask again, how much is life worth in Nigeria?

You would like to take a second look at the picture, and the faces of those who gathered round the supposed criminals. To them, it was only a horror street theatre staged to get them entertained. No one seen in that picture was uncomfortable with the injustice of that moment. They were cool with their actions. We are sure that the footage, if there is any will explain better how the people might have celebrated their victory at the end. We ask again, how much is life worth in Nigeria?

We want to ask: Are punishments not meant to be reformative? We had thought that the essence of punishment was to ensure that there is a change in character or attitude, or a general way of life. If every punishment is done in the cruelest manner without the consideration that human beings can change, then we had better referred to ourselves as animals.

It is irrational, absurd and a parody of justice for anybody to punish, brutalize and or unlawfully take the life of another Nigerian.

In all earnest, the Aluu people have done what they felt was the best treatment criminals deserve, and proudly, they had syndicated the pictures around the country for people to celebrate their victory with them.

On the contrary, DailyPost would wish to appeal to the Rivers State government, and the government of Nigeria to bring the perpetrators of the act to book. We strongly believe that there is more to the murder of those young men than just phones and computers theft. The community leaders and those seen in the pictures, that have already gone viral on the internet clearly have some questions to answer, as they have little or nothing to prove that those they killed were the actual criminals.

Where are the stolen laptops and the phones? Where were they caught? Were they armed? Were the police contacted? Were they handed over to the police? Even if they carried out the act, were they given the opportunity to defend themselves? Those guys might even be guilty of the case and might have been killed innocently.

Our last questions; is the Aluu Community human community or Animal community? Is the community in tune with modernity? Are they still living in a no justice era?

From where did they get the authority to kill? These questions they must answer in no distant time as we believe that justice will take its full cause against these heartless set of animals.

We call on all well-meaning Nigerians that the time has come when we should all stand against all justices emanating from the jungle. We call on the students of the University of Port Harcourt to begin to ask questions, before they are all wiped out from the said community. We call on President Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan (GCFR) to give an immediate order for the arrest of those involved in the killing of the students. We also call on the Rivers State’s governor, Rotimi Amechi to swing into action and ensure that truth behind the murder of the students is unraveled. We cannot turn our country to a wildlife reserve where the ecosystem totally disfavors the lower animals. We cannot fold our hands, and seal our mouth seeing some lawless people taking over cities, towns, and communities.

It’s high time we stood against this senseless act. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Send your press release/articles/enquiries to: newsdesk@dailypost.com.ng





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  • Ife

    I read from The Tribune that there was no reported case of robbery in the community. Even if they stole anything, I think the fools that executed those boys should have known that students engage in silly acts and such matter should have been reported to the police or UNIPORT.

    • Ogbaman

      Ife just imagine your comment that “students engage in silly acts’ i wounder what you mean by that? Perhaps you are one of such people who stole while you are in school. Is better they end up this way before they will graduate into carring gums and block the east/west road and kill innocent persons, which could even be you or your relative. Stealing is stealing. That is how all army robbers started

      • Valacci

        Fuck you bitch million folds

      • ditonn

        Ogbaman or watever u kal urself,u’r an idiot and somtin tells M̶̲̥̅ε̲̣̣̣̥ ur life’s gon end d way dis young fellows’ did. I strongly blame the SUG and students of Uniport. There’s no way dis can happen in Uniben. Even if they r actual robbers wouldn’t it have bn proper to hand dem over to the Police? Instead they slaughtered dese young fellows!! SMH for Nija.

  • seun

    Later they will blame Jonathan. Did Jonathan turn them to animal with no respect for human beings?

  • D king

    Its so sad for that community leaders to stand and kill young promising boys,such actions take away peace from the community,how can people become wicked to the point that human life mean nothing to them.

  • jummy

    Please I hope those Culprits be brought to book. Uniport and the Local Govt of that community should arrest every single soul involved in that gruesome murder, Both the Perpetrators and the Spectators as well. Cos they were all involved. How could u stand and watch someone been brutally murdered and u call urselves humans. They are all Barbarians… And Nigerians need more orientation on this jungle justice rubbish they practice. Any Body caught fighting or ganging up on any one should be arrested. This is really Crazy.

  • Sam obagene

    OMG, i v never seen such an inspiring and thought-provoking write in my years as a student of mass com…wish alll other jounalist would learn from this i do love i must confess

  • Ikwerreman

    The police were at the scene, sanctioned the killings and left. The army came, sanctioned the killing and left. I believe this answers some of your questions

    • Valacci

      That community should thank God it wasn’t one of my own, I would have set the community ablazed fucked up community leaders and ape indigenes plus boneless student who watched their mates roast alive.

  • Ogbaman

    Thief is thief and stealing is stealing. That is how they begin and later graduate to carrying gums and other things. I believe if they have been handed over to police their parents would have just come and bribe the police then they will be discharged, case end.Have you ever lost any item to pick pockets talk less of army robbers is very pain full.
    Really is sympathetic that young people have to end up this very way. I believe this will teach other up coming criminals to re frame.

    • buzor

      youre an ignoramus, so u compare the loss of material possessions to the loss of lives!!! how do you knw for certain they stole!?

    • flippy529

      Cant believe some Nigerians are this dumb. people like you would kill for probably a shirt or shoe even less…

    • jess

      Ogbaman May Satan scatter ur soul..ur so pathetic!!!

  • kay

    Acts such as this should be condemned by all. We should in fact not see acts lik this in any decent society. Have you ever imagined that anyone of us could be in these guys’ shoes? All it takes is for someone to call/accuse you of being a thief in the market. Reminds me of an incident where my dad’s customer was nearly lynched in the street where my dad’s employee lived. The staff member heard this noise and decided to come out. Loo and behold it was a customer she knew too well and whose character she could vouch for. Immediately, she stepped into the crowd and and halted a summary execution which was left with just petrol and a strike of the match stick. Let’s imagine that that staff member wasn’t near the scene; let’s also imagine that the scene wasn’t her turf; would she have been bold enough to put up a defence without riSking being accused as an accomplice? Food for thought.

    • buzor

      well said!!, anybody could successfully accuse any person of anything with the right amount of support!, thats why we have law courts and law enforcement agencies for chrissakes!!!!!, to investigate allegations, charge and prosecute accordingly.

  • heskey

    Students engage in silly acts???
    Tell dat to all d students who hav been robbed and those raped

    • Chimma

      Let me tell you something, 1. Is that stealing is stealing; and it’s only God that has the right to give and take away life not Man., I’m against beating those guys to death; it’s not humane.2..as far as those guys are leaving in that same community, one person or 2 must be familiar with those guys; n could as well confirm whether they were theifs or not; don’t forget that the your immediate community or environment tells something about you; be it good or bad; I strongly beleive that that community must have been tortured by crimals ; rapes ; Robberies and abuses of all sort.; and those guys in one way or the other must have compromised themselves e.g if your a friend to a robber; you are definitely a robber; whether u have gun; or shoots it or keeps their money or not; you can’t tell me that there is no single soul in that community that knows those guys as good or opposite of what they are accuse of and could say a thing or stand up for them; but then were students not there; even the ones that watched n video ; there must be so much more to this story; army Barack is very close ; somewhere in that Aluu community; where we’re they???, then lastly if you have been raped or robbed or lost someone by these guys you should have known that those boys must have been tortured or even faced the law squarely but not to be killed for Christ sake.. I have been there n I know what it’s like!!!., I think there’s more to this story than this

  • Mivour

    You have written well and said it the way it went…I will like you to talk of ritual killing that happen everyday and govt is not doing anything….This kind of killing is what make God in Heaven turn his face off Nigeria….We are one country in the world that dont have bearing and law are just lawless.I have seen this kind of jungle justice is Ojota Lagos and i wept bitterly,it not something anyone which to experience in life…May the family of the students file a legal case against the community and state govt.

  • Mivour

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUWbmtbzDno

    I dedicate this song to the young men who died in an ungodly way.

  • sarah

    Enough is enough , all well meaning nigerians should take a stand against this sort of act which is on becoming miniority in our great nation.the death of these young men is so sad no matter what. Infact I don’t believe the allegations levelled against them.mr president and the govenor of rivers state should and must do something.justice must prevail. They law enforcement agencies shd start from the leader of the community to make arrests so that the perpetrators will b fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

  • http://www.facebook.com/cageybine Ifeleyi Ogbobine

    I totally agree with you and I think their act is rather crude. They also would be judged with the same measure they’ve judged. As for your second publication about an eyewitness’ account, I was too shocked that a lady could think that way that I didn’t even bother to comment. I think that young lady has simply lost all forms of humanity. I think the Nigeria factor has rubbed off on her. We need to renew our minds in this country. This act must stop in Nigeria. I just hope the boys were guilty!! Just trying frantically to *justify* this act a bit. It is WELL!

  • http://www.facebook.com/bimpe.adeniyi.3 Bimpe Adeniyi

    Well I don’t know what to believe anymore, some people said the guys went into a mank4 home stole his belongings & also raped his wife, dey also said dey had cutlasses, mmachetes in their possesions , well if dey brutally raped his wife I’m actuall speechless, cos rape actually kills d victim whilst still alive is horrid, & don’t pity dem if dey actually did dis, jus my. 2cents

    • Valacci

      Fuck you

      • http://www.facebook.com/bimpe.adeniyi.3 Bimpe Adeniyi

        No words for you but if you are a rapist boy karma will catch up on you soonest so get urself checked

    • zino

      Well Bimpe, they were not robbers, neither were they rapists. They were not caught with arms…no guns or even knives. They had no stolen items on them. You see, i schooled in UNIPORT and lived in the same Aluu community. As students, we were being envied by the jobless youths and they always wanted to have fights with students. I have been robbed and injured by boys from this community, my security man was killed by boys from this community too. Boys from this community rape female students. They hung lies and killed them to justify their claims. Even if they were robbers and rapists, what right did those villagers have to kill? These boys are from well to do homes…kindly make ur findings properly and do not base your judgement on hear say.

      • http://www.facebook.com/bimpe.adeniyi.3 Bimpe Adeniyi

        Thanks Zino for clarifying Things I did not mean no harm just aired my opinion,

        • jess

          Bimpe befor u post any rubbish abt d dead verify..ur so pathetic..Ghosh!!

    • http://twitter.com/alenotog Alenoghena Emmanuel

      you are not mature at all! you are an illiterate in its entirety. whatever crime the students must have committed, we have institutions to determine their fate. save for some special circumstances, even a police has no right to kill!

      • http://www.facebook.com/bimpe.adeniyi.3 Bimpe Adeniyi

        Ooh well Mr professor pls tell us what qualification do u hold ? I guess you are rapist as well so whatever is done to your likes. I don’t give a shot, don’t Worry soonest Karma is knocking @ ur door, listen boy cause you definitely not a man I did Not even go to school in Nigeria where plagiarism. Is the order of the day, schooled in in the Uk if you must know from College to university ok dumbass

    • flippy529

      You have mental a disorder and a big apology to womanhood. I wonder what life to you is worth?

      • http://www.facebook.com/bimpe.adeniyi.3 Bimpe Adeniyi

        I don’t have a mental disorder, I happen to work as a nurse in the UK, whilst I was in Uni. I saw how people that have being raped & severly abused behaved, well if u spend a day with a victim of rape u will know where I’m coming from, & you are the one with a mental disorder cause I only laid down a hearsay so before u reply a comment get ur head checked

    • Vicky J.

      @ Bimpe, your informant has a warped mind. it is not true. Far from it. They only went to. To collect money someone was owing them and he refused to pay them or gv dem a time frame to pay. The boys seizedd guy’s laptop and phone, pending when he’ll pay them. On stepping out of d house, d guy (borrower) started shouting: “thief! Thief!! And d rest is history. Be sure of ur rumuor carriers b4 u start talking.. And b4 thunder blast ur mouth! Those boys were responsible and from good homes. Fine gentlemen, dey don’t sag. Boys u’ll be proud of to call ur brothers.

  • MacMay

    Let he who has never done any wrong cast the first stone. The brutal beating, though inhumane would have served as a deterrent to anyone present with thoughts to steal. There was no need to burn and kill them like that. God creates life and only God should take life. The blood of these young men and their future generations is on the head of those who committed this heinous crime. Nigerians have regressed to animals.

  • spice

    Ogbaman, i’m appalled by ur sense of reasoning.are u insinuating dat uve neva stolen before? I tot d idea of punishment is 4 correction. Can dey change if dey ® killed? I doubt very much if dey were guilty of d act. Even if dey were guilty as charged, isnt d punishment too grave 4 what dey stole? Handsets and laptops. What would be metted out on those guilty of stealing cars or even billions in government? D poor man has always been d poor man’s greatest problem. He dosnt think farther than hs nose! SMH!!

  • Mike

    HMMMMMM, SIMPLY SHORT OF WORDS,EACH TIME I HEAR NEWS COMING OUTA NIGERIAN AM ALWAYS ASHAMED TO TELL ANYONE AN A NIGERIAN,BUT THIS ONE IS JUST TOO MUCH TO BEAR,YOU CAN’T EVEN THINK OF KILLING A WORTHLESS ANIMAL LIKE THAT……AM SURE NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO THAT,AND THIS IS THE SECOND VIDEO LIKE THIS I WILL BE WATCHING FROM NIGERIAN,THE FIRST WAS ALSO A SUSPECTED ROBBER THAT WAS BEATEN AND BURNT ALIVE IN MUSHIN,LAGOS NIGERIA LATE LAST YEAR,AND IT WAS RECORDED LIVE…I JUST START TO WONDER,IS THERE ANY MORE JUSTICE IN NIGERIA ?IF ROBBERS ARE CAUGHT,ARE THEY TO BE BURNT LIVE LIKE THAT ?I WAS THINKING THEY SHOULD BE HANDED TO THE POLICE ?BUT WHAT CAN ANYONE DO WHEN EVEN THE POLICE ARE BUSY LOOKING FOR WHERE TO GET THE NEXT BRIBE AND THE SO-CALLED AUTHORITY ARE BUSY FILLING THEIR ACCOUNTS WITH THE COUNTRY’S LOOTED MONEY….HMMMM, LASTLY WANNA SAY, THE GUY HITTING THE SUSPECTS WITH WOOD ON THEIR HEAD AND FINALLY SETTING THEM ABLAZE IN THE VIDEO, THATS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE IS KILLING HUMAN, FROM HIS ACTIONS YOU WOULD KNOW HE AS NO MERCY AND HE IS JUST AN EXPECT…HE SHOULD BE QUESTIONED…HE IS A REAL HUMAN KILLER,AND NOT WORTH LIVING AMONG HUMANS….SAD

  • SAMUEL

    PLS THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA SHOULD DEAL WITH PEOLPLE WHO ARE FOUND GUILTY BECOS I BELIEVE THIS GUY ARE INNOCENT……..THIS IS A BARBARIC ACT………..