Man buried alive over land dispute

 A community leader in Eziali village, Mgbidi community, Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, Chief Oliver Ononaku, has reportedly been buried alive over a land dispute.

The victim was said to have been abducted by unknown gunmen, suspected to be assassins, on December 27, last year.

It was learnt that no one heard anything about his whereabouts until his body was exhumed following the arrest of his suspected killers.

A police source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the deceased had a land dispute with one of his kinsmen, who allegedly hired five kidnappers to abduct Onanaku from his home.

The source said the assailants allegedly killed and buried the community leader in Ozara, a neighbouring village, with the supervision of the man who hired them.

According to the source, the family reported the matter to the police immediately Ononaku was abducted, but efforts to contact the abductors failed.

It was learnt that the abductors, in apparent desperation to extort money from the victim’s family – though the victim had reportedly been killed – contacted the children and demanded N30 million ransom.

The children were said to have played along, on the advice of the police.

The source said: “The money was made available and the suspects told them where to put it. But a plain clothes policeman, who pretended to be a mad man, was planted where the ransom was dropped.

“When one of the suspects came out from the bush to collect the money, he was shot and arrested by the supposed mad man. The suspect confessed to committing the crime.

“It was his confession that led to the arrest of the man who hired them and other members of the gang. They led the police to where Ononaku was buried. His body was exhumed and deposited in a mortuary.”

Another community leader, Chief Iroku Nduka, who was in a pensive mood when our reporter visited the village, described the killing as an abomination.

He said: “We have never seen anything like this before: a man buried alive over a piece of land! We are appealing to the government to ensure that justice is done to calm frayed nerves. After this, the community will begin a cleansing ritual to avert the wrath of the gods.”
Culled from The Nation newspapers

A Private School in the Mega City

  A Private School in the Mega City

With the increase and near-unflinching freedom enjoyed by mushroom schools in Nigeria, the hope for the recovery of the nation’s education system is quite dim. 

While the nation struggles under the weight of social decay, however, it is expected that with some measure of commitment on the parts of the government and other stakeholders in education sector, it should be on the frontline charting the pathway to national recovery. This is because it’s the sector that is directly entrusted with the responsibility of shaping minds and as well as capacity building through formal teaching and learning in schools.

However, the rot in the sector occasioned by government’s indifference and relegation of duty on the parts of various ministries of education has not helped matters. The influx of private investors into education sector which initially was thought by unsuspecting minds to be the messiah that will bring back the much needed life into our education system, alas, the opposite is the case. Many of these investors mainly see running a private school as an easy way of making money. And this explains why these money-mongers run their businesses (schools) anywhere and anyhow. 

Given the fact that education has a huge demand and in most cases its demand outstrips supply coupled with poor supervision on the part of government it has become a race even for the lame. An average private school owner is motivated by how much money he/she wrecks from the business. Many being driven by the get-rich-quick syndrome, schools are now run with little or no regard to pupils’ safety, conduciveness, hygiene, even with little or no learning facility on ground. The most applying of all these seeing the so-called schools situated in an environment that will be best for rearing of animals. For those who see education as money spinning machine, it does not matter to them whether the people they employ in the name teachers have anything to offer to the pupils or not. What matters most to them are the pupils’ fees. 

It should be noted that there are some good schools, situated in good environment, which invariably stimulates learning in children. However, the crux of the matter is that not many parents can afford to have their children in such schools. And the pertinent question is, given the level of poverty ravaging the country, does a poor man have hope of survival through education? Or can a poor afford the kind of education that will make him break loose from the jaws of poverty with way things are going?  

These present day private schools are experts at designing and creating revenue generation formula which include but not limited to development fee, party fee, weekly assessment fee, school lesson fee, graduation fee, etc. They have from customized exercise books to stamped text books for sale. Parents and guardians are compelled to buy these customized materials and failure to comply will result in your child being denied attention as any book bought outside the school territory is marked ‘fake’ and so not acceptable by the school authorities. And for parents, especially those in Lagos State, it is an unwritten law they are meant to abide with, helplessly.

Mushroom schools is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the country, however, the rate at which it is going in Lagos State should give any right thinking mind cause for concern. A recent visit to Amukoko, a suburb in Ifelodun Local Government kept me wondering if inspection department in the state ministry of education is still in existence.

There is this particular school that operates behind one of the buildings in Muda Street in Amukoko. There are so many things that are wrong with this school. Its location is quite odd. It hidden behind a building; entrance to the ‘school’ is gained through a track created from the main building. The property serving as building for this school was an abandoned property for several years, which I learnt became a dumping ground for people living in the neighbourhood. A dwarf separates the school with No. 22 Muda Street.

The proprietor who either bought this property from the original owner(s) or loaned it for use, only managed to clear the shrubs and the refuse heap he inherited without bothering to provide other necessary facilities that will make it fit for human habitation before bringing in his pupils into the place.
It is difficult to understand what manner of person the proprietor is or his problems that will make chose to run a school in an environment that will be best used for rearing of animals or the refuse dump it has always been than an institution of learning. 

The most annoying scene in this school is the human degradation and unhygienic life the children are exposed to. Given the lack of toilet facility, the children are forced to answer the call of nature in the open. They either spread paper or nylon on the floor, which will later be left on a corner of the school building or thrown into a shallow pit that serves as sewage pit for the school. No facility for them to wash their hands after the mess. Is this not an open invitation to cholera and all manner of infectious diseases that may lead to the death of these children? 

Pupils of this school have one thing in common – they look unkempt, unhappy and restless. This has left so many questions on the minds of people, especially this writer.  What manner of people is this school owner molding these children to be in future? Haven’t the parents of these children mortgaged their future for affordability? Would it not have been better if these children are registered in public schools? For sure, it cannot be worst than this. And obviously, these children are from poor families who cannot afford better and quality education for their children. Tragically, coming from poor homes to poor school, have they not been unknowing tied to poverty for life? Considering the commendable effort of Babatunde Raji Fashola’s effort at improving learning and education generally in the state, it should also be stated that this effort will yield better result if backed with proper supervision from the state ministry of education for both state-owned schools and private schools in the state.

2012 Christmas: Was it Really Merry

The long awaited Christmas season has come and gone, but not without mixed feelings Nigerians. Christmas which is said to be the most-celebrated festive season in the world also heralds activities that mark the end of the year, while preparing people’s mind towards the incoming year. It is a time and season people look forwards to for so many reasons. Especially, as it is usually loaded with activities that offer both individuals and corporate bodies some kind of relief from the hustling and bustling of life as it ushers people into festive and celebration mood. The season is synonymous with love, and this is felt in many places as people in different forms such as corporate bodies, individuals send and receive gifts during this season. For charity homes, everyday should be Christmas. It is a time of the year philanthropy is at its peak, especially to the less privileged.

Globally, it is a time and period set aside by Christians for the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. The wave and influence of this season is so strong that both Christians and non-Christians are attracted to it. It is a merry making season. Most companies have their businesses and books of accounts closed during this period. Interestingly, this creates opportunity for most business organizations and people in particular to go on holiday during the yuletide season, thereby giving people the opportunity to relax with their families as well as keep in touch with their loved ones. Importantly, it is a time for sharing the love of Christ abroad, caring, sharing and expressing real love for others.  It is a time of stock taking, relaxation, and visiting friends and places of interest.

Being an annual event that attracts so much attention, businesses expect a boom around this season, no matter how bad the economy might have been. However, during this season, there are some businesses that specially experience increased patronage and boom in the general sense of it; they include food items, clothing, toys, bangers and fireworks, transportation, etc. 

Counting down on the events that took place this season, the 2012 yuletide season can say to have come and gone with mixed feelings. Indeed, the 2012 Christmas season has come and gone, however, not without leaving different tales on the lips and minds of people. For some, it’s cheering and pleasant, and for others, it is tales of woes and some indelible marks in the hearts.  

   

On 25^th December, while Christian Worshippers were at their different worship centers, the dare devil came knocking as the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram attacked – bombing St. Theresa’s Church in Suleja, Niger State, killing at least 35 people. The Second Christmas Day explosion that took place near a church in Jos, Plateau State left a policeman dead. While in Yobe State, a suicide bomber attacked Yobe State Command Headquarters of the Department of State Security Services, SSS, resulting in the death of three persons.

The 26^th day of every December is meant to be a gift day. And Lagosian were not left out, as some residents and shop owners in Jankara area of Lagos Island, woke up to receive a horrible one – a gift of fire that has left them with counting their losses – human and material. On that fateful day, while people were relaxing from the Christmas day hangover, a residential building which serves as a warehouse for bangers and fireworks exploded leaving one dead, scores wounded while about 15 houses and properties worth of millions of naira were razed.

Pointing our flash light on the road crashes, the Federal Road Safety Corps has it that as at 27^th of December 2012, that the nation had recorded 191 road accidents that claimed about 94 lives. While not sounding as a prophet of doom, intuitively, the figure may still increase, given the fact that travelers are yet to return to their base after the Christmas break.

On Saturday, December 29, a clash between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous Gwari at Gwako, Gwagwalada Local Government, Federal Capital Territory, claimed two lives, with no fewer than 1,500 persons displaced. This is just but a few of such events that characterized the 2012 Christmas season. What a Christmas! Nigerians being the strong and lion-hearted people we are, will always find in it our stride to push on. Yet, the reality remains, that Nigerians celebrated 2012 Christmas amidst tears and anguish. What can we say? Nigerians are happy! Aren’t we? And the late music legend, described it as “suffering and smiling”. Nigerians look forward for a real Christmas celebration, one filled with the joy of the season and not one laced with violence and blood.