The UNIPORT student’s killing

WHEN it rains, it pours’ is a refrain that succinctly describes the spate of criminality in Nigeria. Hardly does a day pass without a mention of one heinous crime or the other. Of more concern is the preponderance of crimes that verge on money rituals, especially those involving instances where perpetrators and victims are in close relationship. The trending incident is that involving a man, simply identified as Collins, who was arrested following the alleged murder of his female partner, a 300-level undergraduate at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The tragic incident occurred along NTA Road, Mgbuoba in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The deceased, Justina Otuene Nkang, a Biochemistry student, was reported missing few days ago. She was said to be undergoing her Industrial Training attachment at a popular private hospital located in the D/Line axis of Port Harcourt, where she was last seen. The decomposing and mutilated remains of Justina were reportedly seen four days later in the flat occupied by her boyfriend, whom she had visited after the close of work at the hospital. The deceased was allegedly murdered by her lover for ritual purposes, as her breasts eyes and other sensitive parts of her body were mutilated. That is how low the society has sunk in terms of its utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and the virtual loss of humanity.

It is very sad to observe that the society continues to throw up savages whose rabid interest in wealth and riches outside of hard work and diligence causes them to kill human beings in order to make money and live well! And it is so grave that filial relationships and attachments, rather than being a restraining factor to the conduct of dastardly acts, appears to be the consideration the perpetrators actually latch onto in order to execute their dastardly plans on their unsuspecting victims. The society and its leadership at all levels (family, religious, traditional and governmental) are, in a sense, complicit in the untoward turn of events. In particular, the predilection of the society to literally worship and reward people with unaccountable riches and wealth without bothering to find out how the wealth was acquired motivates not a few people with a weak moral fibre to make a recourse to wealth acquisition by all means. It is, therefore, important for the society, through its leadership, to search itself and come to a fundamental reordering of values and principles if there is going to be a meaningful change and return to good order.

Otherwise, the seeming acceptance by the society, hook, line and sinker, of Niccolo Machiavelli’s dated and patently defective principle that the end justifies the means will inexorably lead it into chaos and perdition. The fact that the arrest of many of those involved in similar crimes in the past, even with publicised trial and conviction, has not dissuaded others from criminal acts, especially those associated with money rituals, ought to underline the importance of the fundamental reordering of values mentioned here.

It is also imperative that citizens avoid associations, acts and predilections that predispose them to becoming victims of ritual killers. Females, in particular, are admonished to be careful about the kind of relationships they keep. Intimate relationships and acceptance of Greek gifts from people of questionable character, or those without known legitimate sources of income to sustain their lavish lifestyles, should be avoided like a plague. Students are advised to face their primary assignment in school, which is education. There are millions of others looking for the opportunity to be in school but they lack the wherewithal, so those who have the opportunity are expected to make the best use of it. It is also important to realise that parents are investing a lot in these austere times and students ought to reciprocate the gesture by facing their studies squarely and passing out in flying colours. It is becoming increasingly glaring in the ‘new society’ that is unfolding that avoidable distractions like frolicking with men for pecuniary gain will not only defeat the attainment of the objective of studying but may also prove fatal for female students, as in the instant case.

It is worrisome that the society has got to a point where some morally depraved people kill their fellow human beings, mutilate and use their body parts for money rituals even when the attainment of their vaulting ambition to acquire sudden wealth is not certain. We have observed on many occasions that money ritualists have never been listed among wealthy men and women of global recognition, as such iconic personalities acquired their fortunes through diligent deployment of their intellect and by dint of hard work. Collins, the boyfriend and alleged killer of Justina, must be severely punished if a case of murder/ritual killing is successfully established against him. That is the only way his ilk and those who may want to tread the same criminal and morally reprehensible path could be deterred. On this score, we urge the police to investigate this incident thoroughly and get Collins, who is already in their custody, to name his accomplices as it is unlikely that an individual would plan and execute money ritualism all alone. The object is to ensure that everyone involved in the dastardly act is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

And now that the arrest, publicised trial and conviction of money ritualists have yet to sufficiently dissuade others from joining the fray, it will not be out of place to tweak the sanction’s grid with a view to imposing stricter punishment, including but not limited to forfeiture of all known assets of culprits to the state, whether or not the sources of acquisition are traceable to acts of criminality. The state and the society must do whatever it takes to rein in the spate of money rituals. It is uncivilised and diminishing to humanity.

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