The Nation Newspaper

Tag: death

  • Ngozi… a heroine even in death

    People called you NG

    To me you are simply Ngor.

    I got engaged. You believed God for yours.

    I delivered, my first child… You got engaged and signed the dotted lines.

    I took in again. So also Ngor.

    I told you to enroll with a General Hospital. For the ante natal care.

    You agreed. And opted for where I enrolled.

    We met on clinic days. It was fun. Sharing and comparing notes.

     

    My tears are gathering … Can I continue with this piece …

    It is in the blood. You deserve this piece. I will.

     

    So I took you to the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

    He welcomed you and gave you his contacts, and added:

    “Call me, even if at night that our baby choose to come”.

    We smiled. Thanked him. And walked away.

     

    I was not comfortable because MD/CEO may be in a meeting, and won’t be readily available to pick calls or reply to SMS.

     

    We walked to the HOD, O and G. He was happy with his ‘women’ taking dainty steps as if they are “still sisi”. We all laughed.

    He said: “Here is my number. Don’t hesitate to call me, even if some of our boys are on strike.

     

    “I know how to call them in and deliver our in-patients. Government will answer them either they strike or not. Just give me a call. Even if it is in the wee hours of the day”.

    We said thank you sir. And took our leave.

     

    You got tired. And opted for a bench. As you lay, a zealous staff asked you to get up, “go and see

    A doctor if you are sick.” You attempted to explain that you just needed to rest. She flared up.

    You told her to leave you alone. I came in and told her where we had been and how the stress

    Had weighed us down.

     

    She insisted you should not sleep on the bench, but sit. Cause management will think “we are not attending to patients”.

    You insisted. She took her leave. Fuming.

     

    You did not feel comfortable again. Saying “No one knows when the trumpet will sound. More so she is older than me. A beg Yeemi, let me beg her. We don’t know when we will see again.”

    You got up. And made peace with her. I saluted you and your virtues. I told the (yoruba) staff in our language that your type is rare. The staff too was happy.

     

    I took ill. I could not push pen.  I became a recluse.

     

    Then the Lagos doctors embarked on a strike. Consultants were working.

    I was sure you will put that call through.

     

    I resumed and did not see you. Not even at the behind the scene clinic.

    I believed you have started the leave.

     

    Then, the Deputy News Editor called me and said “Oye, are you through for the day. Please you can go home”. That was queer. I suspected nothing. I got home. Some hours later, a friend-sister, ‘My City’, called me to verify if it is true.

     

    “What is true”? I asked. She said ‘Aunt Ngozi Campuslife is dead’. I passed out.

    My hubby turned to an emergency resuscitation provider.

    I came to life…never ever to see you… Ngor again.

     

    The tears are flowing now…

     

    Some female influential personalities visited the Headquatre to commiserate.

    After their departure. Barely 48 hours later, the strike was called off.

    Your death ensured many more women are spared the senseless death.

    You are a Heroine… Even in death.

     

    You lived a fulfilled life. Wale that you wanted to be employed got it.

    Agbo, your husband.

    Agbo, your son.

    And many more achievements I can’t mention now… Adieu Ngor.

  • ‘How we escaped death’

    johnson Ikudayisi and Temitope Orebe, who are Ekiti State students’ leaders studying at in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, escaped death in a road accident. They were returning from Ekiti after sorting out bursary and scholarship payments when they had an accident.

    Johnson, 500-Level Dentistry, was the chairman of the Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union (FESSU) electoral commission, Temitope, 400-Level Law, is the president of the union at OAU.

    The duo had gone to Ado-Ekiti to meet officials of the State Scholarship Board and the Governor. After the meeting, the students’ leaders left for Ife.

    However, 20 minutes into the journey, the bus they were riding in somersaulted at Igede-Ekiti and rammed into an electric pole. The pole fell on the bus.

    Reliving the incident, Johnson said he was typing a message on his phone when “we heard a loud sound and that was the end”.

    He said: “A power line fell on the bus and we were not electrocuted. I shouted blood of Jesus. We were 15 in the bus. How we escaped is still a mystery to us. Nobody could say if the accident happened as a result of over speeding.”

    Johnson noted that he was in shock before Temitope got a cab to take them to Ekiti State General Hospital, Iyin, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government.

    He said at the time they left the scene of the incident and the hospital, some passengers were in coma and they left for Ife that same night.

    On the lesson learnt, Ekiti said that he would move closer to God now that he has been saved.

    He advised the officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to rid the roads of bad buses that were not road worthy.

    The drivers, he advised, should be made to undergo training before they should be given driving licence and periodic training for their staff.

  • Three deaths in three weeks

    ALL was silent at the faculties of Law and Social Science of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State capital, last week. The silence was caused by the death of three students, two in final year and one in post graduate school.

    In hushed tones, students discussed the tragedy in groups.

    They were still in that mood when a procession of students emerged from nowhere, singing dirges for yet another, who was said to be a final year student in the Faculty of Management.

    Before the first semester break, Adaobi Chukwuma Chukwukelue, was a final year student of Law. According to her course mates, she was friendly and was looking forward to the day she would graduate.

    Three weeks ago, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, Adaobi, 500-Level Law, who was pregnant with her first child, was taken to a restaurant by her husband for relaxation. At the restaurant, she asked to use the restroom. When she did not return on time, her husband went to see what was happening. He was said to have knocked on the door several times without response. When the door was forced open, Adaobi was found on the floor, unconscious. As efforts were being made to take her to the hospital, she reportedly died.

    The other final year student, Uchenna Michael Ejionye, was said to be a sickler. He became ill after the first semester examination. He was in 400-Level Public Administration. His close friends said he looked forward to resuming for the second semester but Michael did not resume with his friends. He died after a battle with an undisclosed ailment.

    All he left for his friends and classmates are memories of how nice he was. However, according to the class governor, Emmanuel Okon, Michael fought hard but eventually lost the battle to the cold hands of death.

    Mohammed Nasiru, a post-graduate student in the Department of Mass Communication, was preparing to defend his thesis last Monday. Our correspondent gathered that Nasiru traversed Auchi, Edo State and Awka for lectures. Sources said the deceased may have died as a result of accumulated stress.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the three deaths occurred within three weeks. Some students who spoke to our correspondent said such bad news always happens in the second semester. An anonymous student said: “These deaths mostly happen among the final year students. I don’t know what is wrong. It is really sad.”

    Expressing their grief, students of the affected departments wore black clothes and went from one faculty to another, chanting dirges.

    Some of them spoke to CAMPUSLIFE. Chinelo Akorah, 500-Level Law, said: “The joy of admission into a higher institution is one that should be for life. Every one of us thought of going to school, graduate with good results and get work to make money. But when this kind of death comes, it disrupts plans, shattering the hope of loved ones, robbing parents of the benefits of investment. The death of final year students is disheartening.”

    Another final year student in the Department of Public Administration, who craved anonymity, said: “I think we need serious prayers and divine intervention, because it is only God that can save us from untimely death. We share in the grief of the families of the deceased and we pray God to stop this sad news on the campus.”

    The remains of the deceased have since been interred.

     

     

     

  • ‘Her death a reminder of a parlous health care system’

    ‘Her death a reminder of a parlous health care system’

    Senate President David Mark

    Mrs. Olayinka was an indomitable amazon, who stood to be counted when it mattered. At a time when it was a Herculean task for women to aspire to elective office, Mrs. Olayinka was among the few Nigerian women who ventured into politics. She was a very determined person, who had a dream and mission. She proved her mettle and contributed immensely to the building of a new Ekiti State. We shall miss her resourcefulness and robust contributions. We shall miss her passion for women and youth development.

     

    Governor Babatunde Fashola

    I feel completely overwhelmed, just imagining the depth of your pain on the death of a most loyal, dependable and diligent deputy, which you had in Mrs. Olayinka.

    When the history of the restoration of the democratic mandate freely given to Fayemi and Mrs. Olayinka, as well as the back-breaking work to restore meaningful governance to Ekiti State is written, a very glorious mention would be made of the late deputy governor.

     

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole

    We learnt about her death with deep shock and grief. Mrs. Olayinka gave her all to the recovery of the mandate she and Fayemi won. She was unwavering in her quest to deepen the nation’s democracy by going through the judicial process.I met her several times and she exhibited deep knowledge of the problems facing the people of Ekiti and how she and the governor were working hard to leave a lasting legacy in the state.

     

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

    The sudden demise of Ekiti State Deputy Governor Funmilayo Olayinka is a big blow and comes at a time when she is most needed to play a vital role in the transformation of Ekiti. She rose like a meteor and brought compassion and grace to the exalted office of the deputy governor. She was a leading light amongst women of her generation and creed. Her painful death sadly reminds us of the parlous state of our health care system in Nigeria. A national cancer centre of international repute needs to be established with proper funding.

     

    Prof. Wole Soyinka

    I have just picked up the news on Internet. My most sincere condolences. I met your late deputy Funmi Olayinka, only a few times, but was instantly struck by her unassuming grace, intelligence and political commitment. Her departure will be felt as a great loss to your administration, to the people of Ekiti State, but most especially to her family, to whom I request that you be so kind as to convey my message of fortitude in the face of this grievous bereavement.

     

    Emeka Anyaoku

    I am here to commiserate with you on the death of your deputy. This is my first time in this state and I am impressed by the developmental strides, especially the road network. This shows that you and your late deputy and the rest of your executive are working as a team. Like you said yesterday, she was your co-pilot and that shows she played a very important role in the administration. You should not be discouraged by her death, rather you should strive to actualise the vision to develop the state.

     

     

  • Death at a border town

    Death at a border town

    Even journalists, who are known to have a thick skin, were shocked on hearing the news. 185 persons killed in the border town of Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State! It sounded unbelievable. ‘’How can 185 persons be mowed down in one fell swoop?” some wondered. ‘’Haha, and you believe that such a number can be killed just like that when we are not at war”,others said.

    This was the situation in many newsrooms on Monday when news filtered in of the killing by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) of 185 persons. Who are they? Boko Haram members? Children? Old men and women? For now, their identities remain a secret because they have been buried in line with Islamic injunctions, which stipulate that the remains of the dead should be interred within 24 hours. The MJTF was said to have unleashed its firepower on people of the town in its bid to smoke out members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram from the community. The task force’s brief is to castrate Boko Haram at all cost.

    So, when it heard that members of the sect were in the border town, it moved in to clip their wings before they became a menace. According to reports, when the task force got there, the Boko Haram elements opened fire, killing a soldier. Since the task force operatives comprise soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, we are yet to be told the nationality of the killed combatant.

    As a bloody civilian, I respect soldiers a lot because they don’t usually go about showing off that they have the skills to kill in over 1000 ways, as some of them are wont to say. Well trained soldiers are cool-headed; they are not moved, no matter the provocation to unleash their power on the defenceless. It is the ability of a soldier not to give in to anger or undue provocation in any situation that makes him stand out in any gathering. The hallmark of a soldier; a good soldier at that, is his levelheadedness even in war.

    A good soldier is expected to exercise restraint in the face of provocation. In any situation, when others are losing their heads, he is expected to keep his because if he should do otherwise, the end result will not be palatable. With what happened in Baga, we have seen what the uncontrolled anger of a soldier can lead to.

    If soldiers are not levelheaded, they will commit a lot of atrocities during wars, especially among the civilian population. But because of their training, which forbids them from killing, except if extremely necessary, we often don’t hear of extra-judicial killings during wars. Where we hear about such acts, as some soldiers will still behave irrationally, they are few and far between. Those are the soldiers who give the military a bad name.

    These are the soldiers who kill old men, women and rape girls in full public glare under the pretext of military operation. I wonder what kind of military assault will approve of the killing of innocent children and the raping of women. When such things happen, soldiers are no longer soldiers but savages. It is only a savage that will stoop so low as to kill the aged, both men and women, as well as children and also rape young girls. If such are permissible in war, what about in peace time?

    Nevertheless, such sadistic acts are disapproved of in war, so why must they happen when we are not at war? What happened in Baga last weekend is despicable. From the look of things, it was a premeditated act of murder. The soldiers deliberately went out to avenge the killing of their colleague without a thought for the consequences of their action. They probably did what they did in order to teach the civiolian populace a lesson that you don’t shield those who kill a soldier. But that was a wrong approach.

    In 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo adopted a similar strategy when he ordered the levelling of Odi in Bayelsa State over the killing of some soldiers. Yes, Odi was levelled; children, old men and women were killed, but what did he achieve? Did the action serve as a deterrence? As a former soldier, I appreciate the show of esprit de corps by Obasanjo, but he more than any other person ought to know that you don’t achieve anything through force.

    This is why till today, I respect the soldiers who arrested the late Yusuf Mohammed, the former Boko Haram leader, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in 2009. The soldiers treated the late Mohammed well and even treated him of his wounds. But when they handed him over to the police, the story changed. Mohammed was killed in police custody and the Boko Haram members became madder than ever. This is, however, not to justify the sect’s insensate actions ever since.

    If the soldiers could treat the late Mohammed nicely just four years ago, what could have happened to their temperament between then and now? Before the late Mohammed was arrested in 2009, members of his sect had killed many soldiers, yet when he fell into JTF’s hand, he was not skinned alive. He was treated like a gentleman and granted his full rights.

    In peace keeping as in war, soldiers have rules of engagement. The rules differ for both operations. These rules do not sanction the invasion of a community under the guise of hunting down suspects even where soldiers are killed. This is so because in a purely civilian setting as is the case with Baga, the collateral damage that may be done will be enormous during such invasion. In the MJTF’s desperate search for the killers of a soldier, they virtually wiped out a village.

    There is no way the soldierscan justify their action.

    Yes, we feel for them over the killing of their colleague, but the solution to that does not lie in killing innocent people. Those killed may not know anything about Boko Haram. Or are the soldiers saying that all those killed were Boko Haram members? We are yet to get the full picture of this massacre. We may be in for a big shock when the full details of this gruesome act become public.

    For now, all the soldiers, who took part in that bitter enterprise, should be withdrawn from this mission and courtmartialled. They should be made to tell us why they took part in these extra-judicial killings. Whether the carnalthy figure is one, 25, 37, 185 or 300, a life is a life and it should not be taken so cheaply. Soldiers more than any other professional should know that life is precious.

    How can they justify the killing of this lot for the death of a soldier, who knew from the day he joined the army that he had signed away his life? Some people are tried for war crimes in other climes for offences not as grievous as the Baga massacre; so nothing should stop us from getting those who committed this atrocity.

     

  • ‘My close shave with death’

    ‘My close shave with death’

    HE was on his way to Sokoto State for the National Youth Service. He was in an upbeat mood with his colleagues who were also heading for the Seat of the Caliphate for the same purpose. They were all looking forward to a fulfilling service year. Oluwaloseyi Babaeko graduated from the Local Government Studies Department of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State last year

    He was happy when he was mobilised for youth Service, having spent about six years for a four-year programme, a delay caused by strikes.

    The story changed when Oluwaloseyi was Sokoto-bound.

    The vehicle he was travelling in was attacked by Fulani herdsmen. The two rear tyres of the bus suddenly burst while on motion; the vehicle skidded off the road and landed in a pit on the Kebbi highway.

    As he crawled out of the mangled bus, Oluwaloseyi discovered that he had a fractured leg and a dislocated hip. Others in the bus, including youths also going to Sokoto for service, sustained injuries.

    Recounting his experience, Oluwaloseyi said: “The accident occurred on July 3, last year. I left Lagos the previous day for Sokoto State where I was posted for service. We were attacked by some Fulani herdsman in Kebbi at 4am. The attack was unexpected. The driver had lost control of the vehicle and the two tyres burst. The bus swerved into the bush. I had a fracture on my limb and a dislocation on my hip.”

    Writhing in pain for two hours, Oluwaloseyi, who described the accident as “a close shave with death”, said it was by divine intervention that the injured passengers were rescued by policemen, who came to the scene.

    He said:“When the police came to the scene two hours later, we were taken to a hospital in Kebbi State for first aid treatment after which National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials transferred us to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State.”

    The accident did not stop the Fulani heardsmen from robbing the injured passengers. The robbers dispossessed the accident victims of their valuables, including money.

    “One of the Fulani men held a local gun while the others were armed with machetes and daggers. They were about six in number. One of them was speaking smattering English and others spoke Hausa. They ordered us to bring out our personal effects, despite that we were in pains. They didn’t show pity for us. They took our money and left,” Oluwaloseyi said.

    Oluwaloseyi was redeployed to Lagos State the next day on health grounds but he could not go immediately because of his fractured limb. He needed an operation to correct the bone dislocation. After three weeks of delay, Oluwaloseyi left a federal hospital in Gwagwalada, Abuja for surgery at Camek Orthopaedic Hospital, Gwarimpa to bond the fractured bone. He was in the hospital for close to six months after the surgery.

    His tribulation did not end there. Eight months after, Oluwaloseyi is still contending with a broken limb. He cannot walk without crutches, although his dislocated hip joint has been fixed.

    “Fixing my hip joint dislocation was a difficult task. I had to resort to unorthodox means. I was already making plans for a hip transplant in India before somebody told us we could do it at Favour’s Clinic, Makurdi,” he said. Oluwaloseyi was supported by his brother, Mr Steve Babaeko, a businessman, Mr Godwin Oriaku and his wife, Joy Oriaku, who are his in-laws.

    Last December, he left the clinic to resume his youth service at Onigbongbo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Corps member said he had written the directorate of NYSC to refund the money he spent on treatment and for his unpaid seven months allowance.

    On the lesson learnt from his ordeal, Oluwaloseyi said: “I have since discovered that Nigeria is not a country that is worth dying for. If it were to be in a sane society, the head of NYSC would have visited us in the hospital. All the treatment I underwent, I paid for. No help came from the NYSC, yet I had the accident when I was going for orientation to serve my country. This is sad.”

    Oluwaloseyi, enjoined prospective Corps members not to be discouraged by his ordeal. “Whatever is bound to happen will happen. I will not say that anybody posted to the North should not go. I have forgiven the Fulani men because they are ignorant. The Hausa people are not bad because I got my admission to study in OAU through a Hausa man,” he said.

    Oluwaloseyi said he would be returning to hospital for another surgery on his leg in July after he would have completed his service.

  • Tinubu: His death, loss of a national treasure

    Tinubu: His death, loss of a national treasure

    National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday described the death of literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe, as the loss of yet another national treasure.

    He said Achebe died without seeing his dream of a better-governed, fully democratic and united Nigeria fulfilled.

    Tinubu, in a statement by his special media adviser, Sunday Dare, said: “Achebe’s words were like the arrows of God penetrating the fortresses of our leaders and striking their hearts to do good; unfortunately not many harkened and that is why we remain stuck as a people and a country.”

    He said, notwithstanding Achebe’s exploits on the literary stage and his world acclaimed status, he had one regret, which is the failure of successive leadership to birth a new country and liberate Nigerians from abject poverty and want.

    The former Lagos State governor said: “Chinua Achebe lived an exemplary life of sacrifice and excellence. He was a critique-general who through his writings offered lucid suggestions and advice on how Nigeria’s problems can be tackled.

    “We are able to glean from his writings a burning desire for change and a crushing devotion to the emancipation of the larger society.”

    Stating Achebe’s writings will stand the test of time, Tinubu said his books, essays and commentaries will stand as ringing indictments to all Nigerian and African leaders who fail to liberate their people from the shackles of want, poverty and oppression.

    The former governor added: “Nigeria has a lot to offer not just the world but her citizens. Unfortunately, the best, the brightest and selfless amongst us are often shoved aside. Our loss has been the gain of other countries.”

    He pointed out that while the world recognised and elevated Achebe for the brilliance of his writings and seminal interventions, the Nigerian government treated him like an irritant and one of the pesky activists.

    Tinubu recalled how Achebe’s life and writings touched many and mentored several.

    “In my personal encounters with him, his simplicity, his forthrightness and engaging personality struck me.

    “Achebe and his writings were one and

    the same. He breathed what he preached,” Tinubu stated.

    He added:

    “Though he elicits different reactions from different people, Achebe’s love for his people and his patriotism was unquestionable.

    “His devotion to creating a better society was resolute.

    “Nigeria must listen and recognise our best minds and not waste them. Achebe was primus inter pares, a social crusader, the conscience of our nation and we celebrate him rather than mourn him.”

     

  • Death and the seven hostages

    Death and the seven hostages

    The news about the supposed murder of seven foreign workers abducted in Bauchi State on February 16 by the Jama’atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan, otherwise known as Ansaru, is a most unusual one. The seven hostages – a Briton, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, two Syrians and one Filipino – worked for a construction company before their abduction and harrowing captivity. Their captors had warned that the hostages would be killed if there were attempts to stage a rescue operation. They reminded Nigerian and foreign security organisations of the raid on Ansaru hideout near Sokoto during which hostages Chris McManus, a Briton, and Franco Lamolinara, an Italian, were killed when a combined team of Nigerian and British forces staged a rescue attempt in March 2012. On Saturday, however, Ansaru released an internet video clip suggesting that the hostages had been executed because the sect feared Britain and Nigeria were on the verge of a rescue attempt. But while the British, Italian and Greek governments have tentatively confirmed the execution, the Nigerian government has been reluctant to confirm the killings.

    What is curious about the murder is not the announcement by Ansaru, which is simple and direct enough, even if somewhat puzzling, nor the confirmation by the three countries of their citizens’ murder. The curious irony is that Nigeria, where the abduction took place, gives the humiliating impression it is unaware of the fate of the hostages, whether they were dead or alive. While Nigerians sympathise with their government, they do not excuse its dispiritedness. The government may not be able to stage a daring rescue, and may even rightly be afraid of staging another fiasco, but it is expected it should at least be able to tell what has become of the hostages. It rankles that foreign governments seemed surer of the fate of the hostages, while Nigeria, where the crisis unfolded, watches quizzically.

    The Nigerian scepticism may, however, derive from the government’s conviction that Nigerian terror groups were not known to execute their hostages except during a rescue attempt. In addition, the government also probably suspects that Ansaru may in fact have contrived the supposed execution as a red herring to throw the government and adventurous rescuers off the scent of the terrorists. A few conspiracy theorists even believe that the foreign governments quickly confirmed the executions in order to give Ansaru the mistaken impression they would do nothing about the hostages since they were dead anyway.

    Whatever the final outcome, whether Ansaru is lying and foreign governments are conniving at the lie, or whether Nigeria is in a quandary, the only group certain to be embarrassed by the whole affair is Nigeria, which has been unable both to tame its violent sects and incompetent to fight them. Nigeria must hope that the hostages are really not dead, and that its wariness is justified. Any other outcome would be disastrous, for it would paint Nigeria as ignorant of happenings within its own borders. However, in the days ahead, the unpleasant truth about the fate of the hostages will be established beyond doubt. But whatever that truth is will not mitigate the appalling image Nigeria has cultivated and continues to nurture of its government’s unpredictability, dithering and slothfulness.

     

     

     

  • Kano attack death toll now five

    The death toll in Sunday’s attack by unknown gunmen at Dakata and Hotoro quarters in Kano has risen to five, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Gunmen on tricycles shot residents, killing three on the spot and injuring many.

    The Chairman of the Kano State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, said the two latest victims were brothers.

    According to him, the parents of the deceased have reported the incident at the CAN secretariat in Kano.

    Bishop Bello said the victims were returning home from the ECWA Church at Dakata when the gunmen shot them, adding that the incident occurred two weeks after 13 Christians were also killed in their compound at Sheka, Sharada Phase 111 in Kumbotso Local Government by unknown gunmen.

     

  • Extend the death penalty to treasury looters

    Extend the death penalty to treasury looters

    SIR: “No one can be a billionaire in Nigeria today without being corrupt. If you are a businessman, you would have evaded tax or other levies like import duties with the active connivance of those in charge”…Prof Bolaji Akinyemi.

    A few days ago, the media reported that Bayelsa state Governor Mr. Seriake Dickson has signed into law The Anti-kidnapping and Connected Matters Law. The law is said to impose the maximum punishment of death without an option of fine on any convicted kidnapper. Of course, kidnapping is a condemnable offence in any society in view of the embarrassment to the nation and psychological trauma to the victim and family of the victim.

    Today kidnapping has assumed an alarming dimension in the Nigeria. For instance, the mother of finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was kidnapped, the Nollywood actress and Special Adviser to Gov Okorocha was also abducted and lots of others. It is an open secret that ransom is paid to secure the release of the captives.

    After all there are news report that kidnappers often smile to the bank or where the money is lodged to enable them claim it before releasing the captives. Evidence has shown that graduates, undergraduates, serving and retired military personnel mastermind some of these kidnap. The conclusion is that poverty has overwhelmed the entire nation. And this is caused by massive looting of the nation’s treasury that is gradually becoming a family affair among a certain clique.

    It is equally no longer news to hear a public servant or political office holders arraigned for offences of Corrupt Practices like embezzlement of public fund. Indisputedly, our greatest problem today as a nation is corruption. Individuals now build plazas, hotels, estates, mega stations and oil depot from looted public funds whereas government cannot even build a block of toilet. The looters become proprietors of private schools and charge exorbitant school fees. Infact, the easiest way to join the league of millionaires (or billionaires) is to loot the treasury.

    Despite these heavy looting, it is the fowl thieves, handset thieves, pick-pockets that get maximum prison sentence. The treasury-looter gets off the hook through plea bargain; a concept that has abused through wrong application in Nigeria.

    It is commendable that Bayelsa State governor signed into law, death sentence for kidnappers. Let me quickly add that treasury looters also deserve such punishment because they do more damage than kidnappers. The treasury looters divert money meant for pensioners, money budgeted to buy drugs, books, rehabilitate our roads, provide potable water, revamp our ailing industries.

    I call on the National Assembly to compliment the step taken by National Judicial Council by amending our laws to provide for death penalty for treasury looters. The NJC just sacked three High Court Judges; let us have speedy amendment of the Penal code, Criminal code, EFCC Act, ICPC to provide for death penalty so that resources won’t vanish like smoke into thin air. The obsolete Sections in our penal laws should be amended to conform to present trend.

    So it’s unfair to have death penalty for kidnappers alone. The sooner we impose capital punishment for treasury looters, the better for our nation.

    • Danlami Alhaji Wushishi

    Minna