Aluu 4: Thinking for the Defence…

I wouldn’t dare take the brief of the Aluu community but then if I was State Counsel or Counsel to the Slain four, I’ll still have to preempt the defence to build a better case for the prosecution. And so, I’ve been thinking? On what grounds should the Aluu community be found guilty? Please don’t crucify me! I certainly do not support jungle justice. I verily believe that Justice must be done according to the Law thus any form of justice not in accordance with the provisions of the law is for all intent and purposes unlawful.

But then I ask myself, why should we cast stones upon the Aluu Community? First, if we go by the principle Jesus applied in the case of the Samaritan woman when he stated “Let Him who is without sin be the first to cast the stone” in John 8:7, then, there’s no doubt that nearly every Nigerian would step aside. Is this the first time we would hear of a mob action by aggrieved members of a community in Nigeria? Or is it only in Lagos that mob justice is prevalent?

The last time I heard people in my neighborhood beating up an alleged thief, I didn’t join them but I was very glad that he was being beaten just like I danced with my class mates in Secondary School at the news of General Sani Abacha’s death. Does that make me mean? Whether or not, my point is that, most of us rejoice when a notorious thief or corrupt personality is caught. We not only rejoice we condemn and sentence them even before they are tried when we can’t lay hands on them. Or don’t we? Why then do we hypocritically condemn members of the Aluu community?

The people had been tormented by robbers and rapist in the days preceding the killing of the Aluu 4 and suddenly there’s news that a group of boys believed to be robbers had been caught! What is the expected Nigerian reaction? In a village for that matter!  Oh Please! Let’s stop acting like we are in the UK or US or some developed State!

Just a month before the Aluu Killing, about 40 students were massacred at Mubi in Adamawa state and we seem to have just glossed over it. Many thanks to Social media for making Aluu4 headlines…My heart still bleeds at the lackadaisical attitude of the government on Mubi Killings….but I’ll just focus on the Aluu killings for now…

Perhaps, the measures taken by the members of the Aluu community were extreme. Perhaps only very heartless people would use such heavy planks to hit unarmed young men. But then, it is obvious that the members of the community were extremely indignant. I do not say that extreme indignation is a defence in law. Neither do I say that it is moral justification. I’m just trying to put myself in the shoes of the Aluu community. I’m just trying to think for the defence… *smile*

 But seriously! What would I have done if I was a member of the Aluu community? I may not have joined in the beating and again I just might! Especially if my sister had been raped at home or my uncle’s house had been robbed or my aunt had been kidnapped by notorious armed robbers’ weeks before the boys were caught. And even if I will not pick a plank to beat them, I’ll be extremely happy that others were beating them. I certainly would not address the crowd on the presumption of innocence at that time! I most definately won’t remember at that time that such a phrase existed!

What would you have done? *pause* Let him who is without sin be the first to cast the stone! And also for those who would have done the ‘right thing’ in the circumstance, let’s all cast the stones in the right direction…

There’s no gainsaying that jungle-justice prevails in a society where the rule of law is abhorred by the makers and enforcers of the Law. A society where justice is constantly delayed a society where security of lives and property does not seem to be a germaine issue for the government… and the populace have ‘no choice’ but to take the laws into their hands.

Pitiably, Nigeria is such a state, a failed state, a retrogressive a state, one in which the citizens have become local governments for and of themselves. We dig our own boreholes, we supply our own power with generators and inverters, we give our children basic education, and yet you say we should not make and enforce our own laws! Every day, we see Hardened criminals escape justice, crimes being poorly investigated, Security issues being treated with kid gloves and yet, you say we shouldn’t take laws in our hands…oh please!

I pity the people of Aluu that have been labelled witches and wizards and all sorts...the latest taboo in Nigeria today is marrying from the Aluu community…I most especially pity someone who is in jail right now for allegedly participating in the killing because she indignantly  threw  a small plank at the boys. (Assuming those that threw heavy bricks and planks are guilty for so doing). They are all victims of bad governance and nothing more!

I’m thankful for Social Media. The publicity of the killings has been overwhelming. Yet, I ask myself, of what good is the video of how a son was killed to the mother? It only makes the death more painful… I sorrow and grieve with the family and friends of the four young men who met their end for being in the ‘right’ place at the wrong time. (Assuming the story that they only went to recover a debt is true). I grieve that such bright destinies perished simply because the people lack faith in the criminal justice system!!!

I do not advocate for mob- justice, it is to all intent and purposes legally, morally and spiritually wrong. What I advocate for is change in governance. Let’s not pretend like Aluu4 killings is one of a kind! It happens every day, all over Nigeria! And it will happen again tomorrow if there’s no change! I advocate that we cast our stones not on the people of Aluu but on our government!  Let’s stone them until change comes…

Meanwhile, as we channel the wind of change, I pray the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.