Begin with two scenarios. First, a young child in a quiet village is bitten by a snake. The village chief sets up a committee to investigate the incident and tongues begin to wag. The lip work has it that the snake is the chief’s special pet that’s why it’s being treated with kid’s gloves.

In the middle of the committee’s bureaucratic ball-juggling, the snake bites another child. In annoyance, the father of this second child grabs a machete and kills the snake.

Without setting up a committee to investigate the killing of the snake, the chief orders the snake-killer’s arrest. Following that, the village loses its quiet. Hearts and heads harden and the chief is deposed. A simple lesson in this parable, not so?

Now, imagine this: In the murky darkness of early dawn, two students stand outside the shower stalls of a university hostel bathroom bathing. Seven other students, seeing in this act a fundamental sacrilege, arm themselves with whips and sticks, and then approach the two bathers with an aggressiveness cartoon villains would be proud of.

What follows is horrific torture of the bathers. When the bathers are finally left for dead, they turn to outsiders for help and protection. At this point, there’s imminent threat of a riot on campus so the authorities shut down the school.

After some weeks, the university is reopened and some committee is constituted to investigate the matter. In the meantime, while the committee goes about its business of avoiding ever having to actually deal with the issue, the holier-than-thou Villainous Seven strut around campus puffed up like untouchable Mafiosi. Provocative fiction, not so? Well, dig this: this second scenario is non-fiction.

You already know the what, how and why of this criminal deed. The where and when are, respectively, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and March 18, 2006. The basics of this matter have not been gleaned from any thriller, mystery or horror plot. They come from the mouth of the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Shehu Abdullahi. In the Star Feature article titled ‘Anatomy of ABU’s sectarian crisis’ which appeared in the Daily Trust of Wednesday, April 19, 2006, the VC is quoted as having said: “In the early morning of 18th March, a group of seven Muslim female students harassed, intimidated and flogged two Christian female students who were taking their morning bath around 5 a.m.”

The article goes on to relate that “when the university security personnel intervened, the girls that did the flogging ran and hid themselves in the mosque of Ribadu Hall; the hall where the ‘nasty’ act took place.”

Long story short; the VC closed the school when ‘hell’ appeared imminent on campus. On March 27, 2006, the school was reopened. Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration, Professor Yakubu Nasidi, was put in charge of a committee to look into the matter.

General unease with committees aside, the problem in this arrangement is that the DVC is already ball-juggling as evidenced in the account by Daily Trust which had him speaking of “a need to follow due process, because any punitive action could be counter-productive.”

Apart from the fact that this is typical of the ‘bureaucratese’ with which officialdom usually smothers matters it lacks the will to tackle, it also reflects the way in which elements of the intelligentsia go about tying themselves in pointless knots. Moreover, the initiated would hear clearly in that snippet the ‘don’t-rock-the-boat’ treatise being spouted by the DVC. Indeed, some members of the ABU community interviewed for the article made it clear they expect nothing to come of the DVC’s committee. And time, that great revealer, may well prove them right.

Meanwhile, former American presidential spoilsport, Ross Perot, has been placed on record as saying, “If you see a snake, kill it! Don’t form a committee on snakes!” Perot, of course, is on to a good thing. But in this country, those in positions of authority—and this is not restricted to ABU—believe so much in useless snake committees that snakes are running around biting people and getting away with it. When religion and violence mix, the snakes take on monster-like lives of their own and when mayhem strikes, platitudes such as “forgive and forget,” and “leave everything to God” are quickly mouthed by those who forever sail on the winds that blow baloney about how punitive action would be counter-productive.

And so from flogging, the untouchables—within and outside the campuses—move to killing and more platitudes are offered to the victims’ families and friends. In the meantime, what do the elders do? Worse than nothing! Most pretend it’s not their problem while others set up futile committees and recite inanities.

Let it be said here—if it won’t be said anywhere else—that the way Christians are often treated in Northern Nigeria as if they are less than humans would one day birth a fetid meal that the see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil elders would have to digest.

Robot  # 1 | 26.04.2006 19:56

...Read the full article.

DoubleWahala  # 2 | 26.04.2006 23:03

This scenario applies to Nigeria as a whole, not just the north. The worst is yet to come.Bet on it.:mad:

gwobezentashi  # 3 | 27.04.2006 04:40

Hi Crispin Oduobok, It looks like your article contains some material inaccuracies. First, I don't believe that females in ABU live in Ribadu Hall (named after Nuhu Ribadu's father) but in Amina Hall (named after Queen Amina). Also, the onus for the enforcement of the Nigerian penal code does not fall on the University authorities. Yes, the university has its own code of conduct which must be consistent with the Nigerian constitution but when a student commits a criminal offence, there are two strands of actions necessary. You have focussed on the university authority's action/response alone. Did it occur to the victims that they have remedies available within the law of battery for grievous or actual bodily harm or could their apparent reticence to report to the police reflect a lack of confidence with the state of law and order? These are crimes for which the accused could be committed to prison custody but complaints need to be made to the appropriate authorities by the victims. Yes, it would be appropriate for the university authorities to call in the police but in the event that they don't, it does not make it a conspiracy against christians. It could mean that they are negligent, incompetent or corrupt. It may be that one (or some) of the alleged perpetrators is the child of a "big man" but to cite this as an example of the marginalisation of christians in the North is indeed disingenious. Furthermore, nothing prevents a victim or their representative from filing charges with the police. Injustices pervade Nigeria (not just a particular section) for instance where the government fails to act against reports of probe panels e.g. NPA, or INEC against recall petitions e.g. Mantu, or where the police allegedly receive a bribe to investigate a crime and subsequently collects from the other side to drop the charges or government ignores court rulings. It is inappropriate to ask for extra judicial methods to deal with criminal behaviour as such is an invitation to anarchy. The analogy of killing a snake loses me as I am not sure if the author is inviting the elders to kill the alleged perpetrators or to kill their religion which is "misguiding" them to deviant behaviour. Criminal behaviour no matter whether it is cloaked in the name of religion is criminal behaviour and it is for the police to deal with. Riotous behaviour is a breach of the peace and it is still a matter for the police to deal with. An elder who does not wish to stand in front of a moving train (of a riot) is not failing in his responsibility. He is being sensible and self preserving. It is the job of the police to stop the runaway train of civil disorder not the elders. Yes the elders have a role in preventing the riot through education and morale rectitude but this presupposes that the elders have the relevant knowledge to impart. Look around you Crispin and tell me why we are where we are today then if our elders are any good. The christian students in ABU are more than capable of standing their ground as they have done repeatedly time and again when provoked by a fundamentalist hardcore. The tensions have existed for years and reflect the tensions in the wider society but people repeatedly engage in criminal behaviour because they get away with it. The vast majority of muslims are passive and law abiding and could not care less whether the next man was a christian or animist. It is the fundamentalist hardcore that create the problems which need to be dealt with. The onus is not on the passive majority to ostracize the minority as you suggest, everyone is at liberty to hold whatever religious views they choose. The fact that I am not your enemy does not mean I am your friend. It is what people do with the views they hold that determines whether they have crossed over into criminal behaviour or not. It is time that we substantially improved on our law enforcement agencies to protect everybody for the common good. Articles like this do not inform nor help the common good but rather tend to mislead the uninformed. Aluta! Gwobezentashi

Zhul- qarnain  # 4 | 27.04.2006 07:27

When I read this kind of hate- filled and ethno/tribal based articles by Oduobuk and his likes, I begin to really fear for the stability of my dear country. I have continued to ask myself what is the motive of the article? What does the writer intend to achieve? Honestly, I don’t know. Sometime I suspect that such writer’s have personal axes to grind with some individuals and consequently resort to unleash their frustration online. I have scrutinised Oduobok's article and cannot see any paragraph, sentence or word in support of the title of his article. I have therefore concluded that the article is mischievous, written in bad faith and an attempt to divide NVS people on tribal and religious divides. My conclusion stems from the following reasons: 1. From the Newspaper reports, it is very clear that the management of the school is determined to get to the root of the crisis and get the culprits punished: See DAILY TRUST, March 30, 2006: He explained that there was need to follow the due process of the law rather than taken hasty punitive measures that could prove counterproductive adding, "all guilty parties in the conflict will be tracked down and given the chance by the committee to state their own sides of the problem."> Why can’t the writer wait for the outcome of the committee’s report? 2. The writer may wish to note that when a similar thing happened in Ebonyi State recently. Gov. Egwu did not hesitate to condemn it! See THISDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 19, 2006. Governor Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State has condemned attack on the Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Afikpo by unknown persons, describing it as the handiwork of "enemies who seek to disrupt the existing peace in the state."> 3. The same approach for peace was taken by the VC, OAU Ile- Ife, regarding the clash between Muslim students and some students of the schools who demanded their freedom to watch pornography. 4. In every part of the country we have deviants who from time to time inflict terror and destruction on the populace. Examples are the OPC, Bakassi, MASSOB, MEND, NDVF, Area boys, Agberos, Egbesu, Almajiris, Muslim fanatics etc etc. All these categories of persons are no less dangerous. Can we then say that the elders in the areas from which these groups originate encourage them to unleashed violence on the people? Methinks the answer is no? Let me add by saying that I do not support the act of the Muslims student in ABU and OAU, if they felt offended by certain acts of their fellow students, the best option open to them was to report to the school authorities.

EezeeBee  # 5 | 27.04.2006 07:45

Gwobe, You are the one being disingenouous! Your statement: ...people repeatedly engage in criminal behaviour because they get away with it. actually supports the central thesis of the author's article. You suggest that the "christian students... stand their ground as they have done repeatedly... when provoked by a fundamentalist hardcore." You advocate violent confrontation by the christian community in response to the violent actions of the 7 muslim ladies towards the 2 christian ladies. Rather than address the central issue, you tangentially and unsuccessfully seek to nitpick based on the name of a hostel! FYI, I am going to confirm whether or not due to population expansion, ladies are now housed in Ribadu hall. You conveniently shift responsibility for maintaining a modicum of decency in inter-student relationships between the christian community, the university authorities, the police and the entire Nigerian society in general when it suits you. To prevent any arguments or semantic gymnastics, please answer this short, direct question, based on the following quote from you: It is what people do with the views they hold that determines whether they have crossed over into criminal behaviour or not. Is it criminal to assault fellow students? Yes or No?

DALLASITE  # 6 | 27.04.2006 09:52

All you Ndigbo tribalists, What Gwo has been trying to tell you time and time again is that there are few people from all regions and tribes perpetrating crisis. Don’t ascribe a crime to all the people of that faith or tribe of a criminal or few criminals. Gwo, the problem I see is that there are few northerners I read about that condemn this silliness that goes on in the north. Whenever such crisis occurs, we should have people in that community that will come out to condemn the Muslims that perpetrated those acts. Likewise, we need some Ndigbo to condemn people like Crispin, Eezeebee, and Tochuku that don’t find anything good in other tribes. Gwo, we need brothers like you to start educating your ward, while I educate my ward, we then can reach across to each other with other fair minded people across the country to combat our real enemy, Crispins of this world who occupy the leadership of our country that instigate crisis and CHASE THEM OUT to Israel or wherever so that black people can take over!

rodman  # 7 | 27.04.2006 13:43

In past outbursts, Northern politicians,Mallams,Almajiris et al have been complicit in the various killings--many times they took place after Mosque sessions. If I had my way, I would instruct all Igbos there, to go back home or “South” . Covering everything in the usual platitude of: “It is only a minority, you equally find everywhere" does nothing to the situation, they deliberately ignore or fail to see a greater morbid picture, they deliberately ignore or fail to see a large octopus with long tentacles straggling around. The fact is, there are so many racists there in the North that desire the complete annihilation of Southerners--the killing of Yoruba and Jos Moslems seems to be a new occurrence .I don’t deceive myself by subscribing to the black-skin brotherhood that may tend to blind people but I call a spade a spade. Since 1945 till date, Igbos have been killed there. People like me already know what is going on up there, a mere diversionary rant would not stop me from beholding the genocidal script written in Northern Nigeria. When the Denmark fracas broke out, Northern MPs converged and burnt Danish flag(s).These killings enjoy widespread support up there. The same perpetrators of these fracases vanish into normal life afterwards. I expect little or nothing in the way of outrage in Northern Nigeria,infact I have almost come to a point of blaming Southerners totally for the killings. Why walk into a region when you know you would be ultimately overpowered and killed? When would it dawn on you that any event in the world-- Iraq and Afghan wars,cartoons,Miss World et al---you would be scapegoats? If America attacks Iran what guarantee do you have that you would not be subdued there in the North and killed? If Israel attacks Palestine tomorrow, what guarantee do you have that you wouldn't be attacked? I cannot believe that people remain blind to these things, they appear to comfort themselves with, “it happens elsewhere",yet since 1945, there has been a generational shift of these attacks. It might be happening everywhere, but I doubt it if they have the same character, this one seems to have a more vindictive,annihilatory feature. This one seeks the continuous sacrifice of “outcasts” in her midst.

Naija for life  # 8 | 30.04.2006 12:18

I have decided to schedule an appointment with my ear doctor. The curious deafening silence regarding the question by Eezeebee, and the comments by Maazi Rodman has driven me to this decision. And strangely, I have not been able to allay my affliction with the palliative: "Such statements should not be dignified with a response." I think this is one instance that vociferously begs for just such a gesture.