Editorial

The killing of Nnenna Obini

IT is really concerning that the Nigerian society is inexorably slipping into anarchy and lawlessness. In the process, many citizens would appear to be rapidly losing their humanity judging by the utter disregard for the sanctity of human life that is fast gaining traction in the country. For sundry reasons verging on the pecuniary or economic; revenge, plain cruelty and so on, citizens seem to have become used to inflicting pain and killing one another without bating an eyelid. It is really distressing. Recently, citizen Nnenna Onu Obini was one of such victims of mindless killing by her employer for failure to account for N17,500 out of the day’s sales! Her employer, who owns Nwanyioma Hotel in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, reportedly tortured and locked her up in one of the hotel rooms for days without food. Not even the refund of the missing money by Nnenna could temper the anger of the employer who cruelly proceeded with the unlawful punishment until it allegedly culminated in the death of the hapless victim.

This is a clear case of torture and murder, and the laws of the land are very clear about these egregious infractions. It would not matter whether Obini’s alleged mistake was that of the head or heart, or whether it had to do with outright larceny; her employer progressed in grave error by taking the law into her own hands. And it is evident that she has realised the enormity of her thoughtless and precipitate action as she is now reportedly on the run. We enjoin employers, who by the very nature of their relationship with their employees seem to have some advantages over them, to always be civil and humane in their dealings with the supposed weaker party as they both have their inalienable rights under the law. And in fact, in the eye of the law, there is no such thing as weaker or stronger party as the seeming advantages of one party are actually responsibilities for which (s)he could be held to account. Whether it is master-servant or employer-employee relationship, such is construed within the context of exchange of values in which one party renders services and the recipient of such services pays for them. Thus, in the real sense of it, one party is not doing the other any favour. It is simply a matter of roles delineation.

The point we are making is that in an employer-employee relationship, it is wrongful of the employer, perhaps buoyed by the erroneous impression that (s)he is a dispenser of favours, to attempt to leverage on such patent fallacy to treat the other party harshly or even occasion unwarranted fatality like in the instant case. That is unlawful and most unacceptable. Yes, it is true that the mortality rate of small scale businesses is on the high side in Nigeria largely as a result of the activities of dishonest staff who work in them, but that can never be sufficient ground for any sane entrepreneur to contemplate mistreating, let alone torturing and/killing his/her staff. That is patently outrageous and off limits. You don’t severe the head from the neck just because it aches, or kill a gnat with a sledgehammer. That would be counterproductive. In any case, notwithstanding its suboptimal application, the country runs on the basis of the rule of law, and meting out punishment for the infraction of the law is the exclusive preserves of the law court. No other person or entity has such powers. In other words, there are civilised ways of resolving disputes and no employer has the right to resort to self-help.

It is confounding to observe how some Nigerians who grew up knowing the virtues of being their brother’s keepers capriciously degenerated to the level where they do not only take the laws into their own hands but also have no second thoughts about inflicting pain on and doing incalculable harm to others. Could it be that the import has been lost on such Nigerians that society runs on the basis of shared values and rules, with everyone enjoined to abide by the rules to make for order and good living? Why should they operate based on their own whims and act without societal rules even to the extent of depriving others of their lives unjustly and in a bestial fashion? This is a grim situation and a dangerous tendency that is diametrically antithetical to order and a workable society. While the office of the citizen has a role to play in reining in this pernicious proclivity, the government must take the lead in arresting the inexorable descent into impunity and anarchy that has the potential to render the society totally lawless and dysfunctional.

It is important to reiterate that the society stands no chance of attaining its cherished goal of maintaining and guaranteeing peace and order if wilful and flagrant disregard of decency, societal laws, rules and regulations are officially condoned, wittingly or unwittingly. On this score, we urge the security agencies to ensure the apprehension of Nnenna’s employer and bring her to justice. It is crucially important that the relevant authorities see getting justice for Nnenna Obini as an objective that must be achieved in order to underscore the primacy of the rule of law in a civilised society. And more significantly, the attainment of this goal promises to be pivotal to restoring and maintaining the rapidly waning confidence of many citizens in a lawful and orderly society.

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