The Nigerian society is sliding inexorably into the abyss on account of some citizens’ proclivity for engaging in acts of lawlessness arising largely from twisted and warped value system which has resulted in significant erosion of humanity. The burgeoning incidence of inhumanity in the country calls for serious concern. It has, more or less, become a daily occurrence to read reports of people taking the law into their own hands in an unfeeling and callous manner that calls into question their humanity, and even their sanity. And unless something is done urgently to arrest the drift, primitive and disturbing features of the Hobbesian state of nature will continue to manifest in the country. For instance, just a few days ago, a young man reportedly buried his younger brother (step brother) alive in Lokoja, Kogi State, for stealing N1,000! But by stroke of providence, the victim, a young boy, was miraculously rescued by a good Samaritan after he was found buried alive by his very own brother!

The harrowing ordeal was captured in a video that quickly circulated across various platforms. In the video, the elder brother shockingly admitted to the act of burying his younger sibling, justifying it by claiming that the young boy had stolen N1,000. And to add a shameful dimension to the incident, during the ensuing interrogation, the suspect offered an even more disturbing revelation: he stated that while their father remained unaware of the incident, their mother was fully cognizant of what had transpired. According to him, it was at his mother’s behest that he had imposed such a severe and inhuman punishment upon his younger brother. This incident is shocking, heartless, evil and devilish, and it is scandalous that it happened between brothers. It is unheard of.

The horrific incident is a sad commentary on the increasing loss of value for life in the society. Filial relationship is no longer strong enough, as in the instant case, to sway aberrant citizens from hurting or attempting to hurt each other in a definitive fashion. Where did a teenager get such a horrendous idea from? It is almost certain that this patently cruel young man had no proper upbringing; he says his mother is complicit in the incident. And this same mother was reportedly in church while one son (her biological son) was burying another (her stepson). What type of deity had she gone to worship in the church if indeed she was complicit in the hideous act? And is it not curious that the man of the house did not feature in any way in this bizarre incident? Where is the father? It is most probable that the family is dysfunctional, which is also a pointer to the deterioration in family values and, indeed, moral value system.

It is rather difficult to fathom how, why and when the country degenerated to a point where life has become so untenable and citizens would seem to have totally lost their humanity. This story leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Were it not for the victim’s opportunity of being seen and saved by a passerby, the young man and his mother would have imposed certain death as punishment on him for the alleged crime of stealing N1,000! And it is really disturbing that in the new Nigeria that is unfolding, not even family network or relationship saves anybody or provides protection in any meaningful sense. The society and those on the leadership saddle must come to the realisation that things have gone awry in the land and that there is a need to work for the rebirth and enthronement of new ethos and values that can make for worthy and viable living for the society.

A situation in which everyone takes the law into their own hands and acts in inhuman ways to others without regard for rules and regulations and decency will not augur well for the country. Consequently, and for the umpteenth time, we call on leaders at all levels—family, school, traditional, religious and governmental—to be deliberate and intentional about value reorientation and moral rearmament in the society. These leaders are enjoined to work assiduously to bring back some sense of decency, worth and regulated living in the society. That is apparently the only means of preventing total collapse of values in the society and degeneration into anarchy.

It is good to know that the matter has been reported to the D Division of the Nigeria Police in Lokoja, Kogi State, and that a thorough investigation is now underway to determine the full extent of this appalling incident with a view to bringing those responsible to justice. We urge that the police inquiry into this incident should be painstaking, especially in relation to the alleged complicity of the stepmother of the victim, and the focus should be to unravel the real motive for the barbarous act. Imposition of capital punishment, as it were, on a young boy over larceny involving a thousand naira is preposterous and outrageous, and is suggestive of much stronger and deeper, albeit ignoble motivation.

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