Murder is defined in criminal law as the unjustified killing of one person by another, usually distinguished from the crime of manslaughter by the element of malice aforethought.

In Nigeria, most of these murders go unreported, unrecorded and uninvestigated. The perpetrators are never suspected, caught nor prosecuted. The crime of murder and assassination thus bolsters in our society with high unemployment rate and violent political processes that arms touts to the teeth. 

When a high ranking politician is killed, the IG sets up a special panel to “investigate and prosecute”. Three months down the line, after faking and framing witnesses, the hype is down and dead. For an ordinary Nigerian in the streets of Lagos or in the valley of Idemili   River, nothing is heard.  Not even the tears of the helpless loved ones are noticed. Rather, the police capitalize on such murders to extort money from family members in the name of investigation.

Two weeks ago, I heard that Chukwuma Ogbueli has been missing. He was last seen in Awka on his way back to Lagos from Enugu.  We waited for contact from him or from whoever may be holding him, we prayed, we wished Chukwuma will come out of this and join us once again in our village meeting, we hoped that we will once more enjoy the fun, the glamour and all the excitement of being with him.

Yesterday, I got a call that the lifeless and decomposing body of Chukwuma has been found dumped somewhere in Awka. It happened that Chukwuma was cornered and murdered in cold blood.

For three weeks Chukwuma went missing, for three weeks nobody could do anything except wait and pray, including the Nigerian Police Force. You will definitely not hear about his death on the pages of the newspapers, but everyday, many Nigerians like Chukwuma – the less familiar faces - are murdered in our villages, towns and cities.

In the cities many law abiding Nigerians are attacked, some killed as they retire home to their loved ones after a hard days work. In the towns and villages, grand mothers, wives and daughters are raped and husbands made to watch.

In Aba the vigilante group Bakassi, has been regrouping in many areas following the increasing incidence of robbery in the town, despite its official ban by the state government last year. Most parts of Lagos are being guarded by the OPC Vigilante and other security outfits that are being organized by residents in the clear absence of protection from police.

Nigerians are made to pay for these vigilantes in the cities where they reside. They still have to pay their taxes to the government and back in the villages contribute to the support of youths who are armed to protect the village – call it triple taxation. Chukuwma was among the group of Nigerians that were made to pay for their security thrice.

Yet he was murdered when he needed to be protected.

The last time I was with Chukwuma was in July 19, 2007 at the burial of my uncle Josiah Agudosi. At a stage in the burial ceremony, I beckoned on one traditional musical group to come and play for me. As I danced, Chukwuma joined me, he was smiling as ever, he was merry and his dance steps and infectious smiles attracted friends and relatives as we danced to freedom.

That was my Chukwuma. That was our Chukwuma that always insisted that “gone are the days when we have to keep on quarrelling and eating bitter cola whenever we gather for village meetings at home or in Lagos”. He advocated for brotherly love progress and development of Ngo- Nnobi. With his death, something big has forceful been taken away from our midst.

Last night I couldn’t sleep when I got the information that … Chukwuma has been found dead. Tears however refused to flow. I would have loved to cry to lighten my heart, to bury the expectation of the reunion we talked about in July 2007, to mourn the demise of some one who believed in me…

But as I write these words now, tears have finally dropped as I remembered the pains and the joys I shared with Chukwuma.

With your brutal murder however, I wish the tears of the silent majority and the less familiar faces in the ever increasing crime wave of unreported murders will be addressed by the relevant authorities.

Adieu my brother, adieu my friend, although I still wish this sunshine would have been allowed to continue a little longer.

Robot  # 1 | 17.10.2007 04:28

Murder is defined in criminal law as the unjustified killing of one person by another, usually di...Read the full article.

Prince Charles  # 2 | 17.10.2007 05:27

Very sad indeed!

Emperoneroh  # 3 | 17.10.2007 05:29

My sincere and heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and the family, friends and relatives he left behind. Only the almighty above knows and protects us.

Ajuzie  # 4 | 17.10.2007 06:05

Dear, The evil in Nigerian govt.will reach everyone,but let see who will laugh last while born to rule Generals holds nigeria in a big hole.Evils born to rule nigeria

dele26  # 5 | 17.10.2007 06:21

Private electricity (generators), private water supply (bore holes), private security (Body guards, OPC, Bakkasi), Private estate (VGC, Citec, etc), private escort through borders (hired immigration officers), private roads (individual streets and villages roads' resurfacing), private refinery (courtesy obasanjo) ……….what a forsaken country. What then is not private? :frown::frown::frown::frown::frown::frown::

mekabudd  # 6 | 17.10.2007 11:10

Very sad indeed. I sympathize with you.

TEchi  # 7 | 17.10.2007 14:20

How very tragic!! I am truly saddened to read this tale of a young man full of life but brutally take away by wicked hands. May I extend my deepest condolences to you and the family? My brother, take heart, for the wickedness of man will not outlast the goodness of God.

JAGA-JAGA  # 8 | 17.10.2007 16:19

Take heart my brother. That is what an average Nigerian is going through. Unfortunately, the powers that be do not seem to care or even understand, for they have being blindfolded and deafened by corruption. They run a system of government which is not sustainable. Fortunately the arrogant, the criminals and murderers would not last forever. They will surely pay their price at the appointed time. And like the late Dele Giwa of blessed memory pointed out, "that no inhumanity perpetrated by man to another man would go unpunished.If not now definitely in future and if not by man then by God".

mamazee  # 9 | 19.10.2007 06:10

It is indeed very sad. I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't know when all this nonesense will stop. You go out of the country, trouble, you stay in your village, another wahala, where will one lay one's head without fear of being eaten alive for no just cause?:mad: Just last month, one man was caught changing his bloody clothes under a bridge in Abuja after luring an unsuspaecting female with suya. He took her privates and tongue but claimed that what stained his clothes was Zobo, (a native drink). How I wish that such wicked people could be caught more often than not. We leave everything in God's hands.

Beam  # 10 | 19.10.2007 06:31

This is sad and i extend my sympathy to the family and to you remember that pain passes, but beauty remains, beauty of your memories the last time you were with him will last for ever and no evil can rob you of that. God will give you and the family the grace and the strength to pass through this passage. My Prayers are with you stay blessed