USA Africa Dialogue Series - The Recent Story on a Lynching from Nigeria : Contrastive Perspectives

C. Ben Bosah

15 hrs · 

I saw an image that made me violently sick today. A young boy, seven years old it was reported was burnt to death on account of food. Join us if you choose not to be a passive citizen. Ben Bosah Books is putting up a 500,000 naira reward for the arrest and successful prosecution of any of the people responsible for this dastardly act. Feigning indignance is not just enough anymore. Please do not just like. Show anger. And match it by stating how much you would add to the reward. And share with your friends everywhere. I deliberately chose not to share the image.

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36Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju and 35 others

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Chukwudi Onyia Supporting with N100K Oga Ogbanshi

Like · Reply · 1 · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah You are the man, Abuno.

Like · Reply · 1 · 15 hrs

Chukwudi Onyia Daalu Sir! Just following in your foot steps

Like · Reply · 1 · 15 hrs

Nnamdi Okonkwo I think I saw the photo too and I'm still shuddering from the gruesomeness. I can't believe people are capable of such wickedness.

Like · Reply · 1 · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Oga Nnamdi, I am commissioning a piece to mark from you that has to remind us of this event. I am not that rich financially, but I will find the money to pay for your effort.

Like · Reply · 2 · 15 hrs

Nnamdi Okonkwo C. Ben, bro I'm so sick from this. I really wonder if I'm up to the task. The gravity of this crime is almost beyond expression.

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Nnamdi Okonkwo I was sick, but now I am raving mad. If we stay silent then we are complicit in such an act. For the life of me, I cannot understand how people can record such an event and no one had the fortitude to stop it. Do we still have a country?

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

Nnamdi Okonkwo The same questions I'm asking myself. I can't understand it. We are degenerating into something worse than animals.
I'm ready to do whatever I can to help. But what to do?
Perhaps sharing the images on fb will bring attention of the world to it?

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Nnamdi Okonkwo , but we have to bring the people that did this to justice. Sharing it with the world makes them continue seeing us as animals. Bringing the idiots to justice begins to restore our humanity.

Like · Reply · 2 · 15 hrs

Nnamdi Okonkwo As hard as it is for me to think, much less wonder, is there still justice to be found in Nigeria?

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Nnamdi Okonkwo We cannot stand on the sidelines anymore. We can force it, if it comes to that.

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

Jide Aje C. Ben Bosah Not sure worrying how the world sees us should be primary in not sharing the images.
With us it's damn if we do and damn if we don't.
If sharing the images will bring about a change, then that is the right thing.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Ato Arinze We have completely lost our humanity in this country, thanks Mr. C. Ben Bosah for instituting this reward.

Like · Reply · 1 · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Share it. If I had the resources, I will up the reward to at least one million.

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Reward has now be upped to 600,000 naira.

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

Moyo Okediji I add 100,000 naira to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.

Like · Reply · 5 · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Oga Moyo, you are the man. Thanks a million. I want to also commission one of your illustrations because this has to be burnt into the memory of Nigerians. I will find the money to pay you.

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Reward money up to 700,000 Naira

Like · Reply · 3 · 15 hrs

Nkechi Abii Very Evil act! People taking pictures and no one could save that child! In Nigeria! Did they not drink of their mother's breast milk?
Mba o! Ife a bu alu!
I am appalled!
I am angry!
I am sharing...

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Reward is now up to 700,000 naira

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

Nkechi Abii Great! I have shared.

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Moyo Okediji Some two years ago, they burned three undergraduates for stealing a computer in Port Harcourt.
Nigeria is morally bankrupt.
This is why the country is facing so much hardship.
One day, sooner than later, the dollar will exchange for 1000 naira as punishment by God for the evil of Nigerians.

Like · Reply · 3 · 14 hrs · Edited

C. Ben Bosah Nkechi Abii has a painting that captured that dark moment,Moyo Okediji

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

Moyo Okediji I remember her painting.

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Nkechi Abii Moyo they were 4! Four young male students. 
Alu Four!
One of them looked like my own last son. Doing the painting made me have some sort of closure. I cried as I did that sculptural piece

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

C. Ben Bosah I hope you indulge me for using an image of your work without permission. I cannot sleep.

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs · Edited

Nkechi Abii Pls go ahead Ben. 
Who can sleep? They have murdered sleep!
Therefore we can sleep no more....

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

Emeka Okoro Disturbing imagery ... God help us.

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

C. Ben Bosah We have to help ourselves. And it starts with paying a reward for finding these goons and a successful prosecution

Like · Reply · 14 hrs · Edited

Ijeoma Mark-Abii So sad.Crying as am sharing this.Eternal rest grant him oh! Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him.May he rest in peace. Amen.

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Nina Fabunmi I feel sick and devastated at this

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Olu Oguibe Bosah, I think these incidents continue to take place precisely because most of you Nigerians have no sense of history. I've read so often since yesterday how life no longer has value in Nigeria, emphasis being on "no longer". Yet, I cannot recall any time whatsoever when life had value in Nigeria; certainly not in my lifetime. Is this not 50 years since Nigerians went out into the streets and hacked thousands of their Igbo neighbors and their children to death all across Northern and other parts of Nigeria, and walked free without consequence? I don't recall coming across any reflection on that heinous crime by any of you this important anniversary year. Between 10,000 and 50,000 lives wantonly taken, according to all reliable sources. And that was not the first. Or the last. Isn't it a cruel irony that the nation that once pursued a war policy of starving millions of children should watch the lynching of a child a half century later for allegedly stealing food? Nigeria is an eternally cursed nation of savages, and no intermittent gestures of sudden outrage can change a savage people. As Bob Dylan would sing: Take the rags away from your faces, now ain't the time for your tears.

Like · Reply · 6 · 13 hrs · Edited

Jide Aje Even the number one citizen the Prime Minister's life had no value!

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Tobenna Okwuosa Ichie, thank you for this initiative, and may the good Lord continue to bless and protect you and your family.

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

DiePreye Krukrubo I match my little N100,000. Let's show the world and ( most impotantly ) ourselves that Nigerians do not accept this reality.

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Lauryn Nazy Samuel A country of Laws yet very Lawless, this is utterly barbaric. When will Nigeria atone for the blood unnecessarily spilled.. supporting Ben Bosah Books with 10, 000.

Like · Reply · 1 · 14 hrs

Jide Aje Nigeria is not a nation yet.
And it is definitely not a nation of laws.
Hence the lawlessness.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Li Lian Olu Oguibe has it summarized there. Exactly what I said yesterday. Vile as it may be I am not surprised.Meanwhile the mosques and churches will be filled to their brim come Friday and sunday...A nation of savages.

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Lauryn Nazy Samuel Truth is, the first news I heard, people who stay around where the event supposedly took place, said he tried stealing a phone from his victim and stabbed the victim thrice... all of a sudden the garri story came up. My fear now is, what is The credibility of the garri story? is there any misrepresentation of facts? Is the misrepresentation of facts sacrificing our own country's name? Whichever way I stand on the part of justice... jungle justice is unknown to our laws.

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Christian Egejuru so sickening a scenario indeed!

Like · Reply · 13 hrs

Uchenna O Anowi I think this has gone on for too long,The annoying thing is the perpetuators always go scot free at the end of the day.An example is the gruesome murder of a woman in Kano state.Most times the Nigerian Police will be at the scene of the crime doing nothing and you dare not say or do anything alone because the mob will lynch you too. If possible let people take the picture of those involved and report them to the police.Its really sad this is happening at this time and age.Why will a little boy of seven be lynched because of garri.What of people who stole billions of naira? I am damn so unhappy.

Like · Reply · 13 hrs

Sonia Lami Bature I am annoyed and agreed...nigeria is a lawless society...our Government need to be questioned. ..children are protected all over the world...except in nigeria...i want justice for this child..Our government have failed ...a child is hungry nd then he gets killed for a condition that was beyond his control...and i bet no one will be held for his act..

Like · Reply · 12 hrs

Chuba Obi I support with an undisclosed amount. Will update Mr C. Ben Bosah.

Like · Reply · 1 · 11 hrs

Jolanta Niedzielak Horrifying and heartbreaking.

Like · Reply · 9 hrs

Moyo Okediji Human life has always mattered in Nigeria, unlike what Olu Oguibe claims. 
Human life matters to me.
And I hope it matters to you too, Olu.
I'm convinced it must matter to the people on this thread.

Can we allow the action of a few demented souls, and the inaction of the misguided leaders to become the yardstick with which we define the history of Nigeria?

Most of the people partaking in the Pogrom of the sixties and the civil war are a murderous minority--while the majority of the people feel too cowardly to act, but not because life does not matter to the majority.

Should the majority for whom life matters have been silent?
No.
But they are/were just afraid for their own lives, realizing that the few murderers who tarnish the name of Nigeria would not hesitate to murder them too.

What we need is resistance by the majority to whom life matters. And this is why the initiative taken here by C. Ben Bosah is commendable.

It is not an occassion for cynical thoughts. It's a call to action for those truly interested in saving Nigeria. 

I know Olu probably is not interested in saving Nigeria, since he rescinded Nigeria citizenship. Those of us who continue to hope for Nigeria, should not succumb to despair.

Like · Reply · 5 · 4 hrs

Sonia Lami Bature We shall always hope for a better nigeria......

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Olu Oguibe Pardon me for being dismissive, Moyo, but this is all cynical, clueless nonsense. You're sitting in Texas raising reward money for the apprehension of culprits in Nigeria. This apprehension and prosecution is obviously meant to be done by Nigerian law enforcement. You're not in touch with Nigerian law enforcement. So, who's the money you're pledging going to? Are ordinary Nigerians supposed to go out and apprehend these people, charge them, and prosecute and jail them, or are you sitting in Texas and dreaming of getting the Nigerian police to go out and arrest and prosecute people in Badagry just because you pledged some meagerly sum on Facebook? When the people who seized and beheaded a woman in Northern Nigeria for allegedly desecrating the Qur'an were set free a few days ago, did you even notice, let alone do anything about it? Yet, you care about human life and you hope I do, too. What nonsense is that?

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Oga Olu Oguibe, in the absence of a functioning government, we can not all fold our arms and do nothing. That approach has never and will never solve the problem. Are there myriad issues happening in Nigeria that deserves our attention? Yes. Can we dosomething about all of it? No. But we can never all turn in our passports and expect the situation to change. Oga Moyo Okediji is trying to do something to support an idea which may eventually yield some fruits if any money raised is used to fully prosecute the goons who were involved in the dastardly act. The story is still fluid about what exactly happened, but any civilized human being should be appalled at that act regardless of the age and nature of the deceased offence. And that does not mean that the beheading of a woman is acceptable. Not doing anything about that particular issue does not mean that one is any less offended, but this journey into the doldrums of Hades has to be started at some point. For me it is now. A few years back, we all read the story of the 4 students in Port Harcourt. We have to take back our country, for those of who still consider ours. You may have some points in your submissions, but continuing to stand on the sidelines and doing nothing will never solve any problems or turn that ship from the regression the country has witnessed from when we were in Nsukka to the progression we desire for future generation of Nigerians.

Like · Reply · 3 · 2 hrs

Moyo Okediji I was not aware of the woman beheaded over Koran desecration. I did not even know of the boy burned by the mob until Bosah posted it on my link. You are the one just informing me it took place in Badagry. I didn't know that. You care a lot for Nigeria but pretend you don't, Olu

I am busy in Austin. You know how it is with academic work. 

It is not my job to figure out how to arrest the killers. It is enough for me to support all efforts to bring them to justice, realizing that no system of justice is perfect, not even in the USA

Theresa Ugwuanyi A comment from kolapo's wall
From @Harri_Obi on Twitter:
1. Let me share my own side of this lynching
story. From where the alleged thief was burnt,
to my house is a trekable.
2. It is a notorious bus-stop for phone thieves
i.e Alafia, the bus-stop before Orile, if you're
coming from Mile 2.
3. I lost my blood brother to these thieves in
January of this year. He was 20, was coming
back from dance rehearsal.
4. He was holding his friend's Samsung Tab
when the thieves approached him & without
warning, stabbed him in the neck.
5. His friends didn't know what happened cus he
was at the back. After he was stabbed, he ran
towards his friends...
6. And cried for them to help him, that he had
been stabbed. Immediately after making that
statement, he collapsed.
7. My bro. is huge in size, so it was difficult for
his friends to lift him. Even when they did,
nobody stopped for ...
8. them or offered to take him to a hospital. A
good Samaritan bikeman helped and took him to
a near by quack hospital.
9. The hospital rejected him. It was a lost cause.
So his friends abandoned his lifeless body on the
road opposite the
10. hospital. One of them ran 2 my house to call
me. I had just come back from d gym, i had only
gym pants on, no shirt
11. I did an intense squat programme that day.
Mind you, i never do squats in the gym. I flung
my phone and ran out as
12. fast as my tired legs could carry me, half
naked. I didn't even know my mum was following
me. I got to the hospital
13. and saw my brother's lifeless body on the
floor with dozens of people staring at him like
he just landed on earth.
14. I fainted, but some folks revived me and put
me on a bike with my bro's body. They put my
mum on another bike.
15. Some of our neigbours who had heard my
mum screaming also followed us. It was difficult
for the bike to balance cus
16. of my bro's weight. So our neighbours
carried him on their hands to another hospital,
which also rejected him on
17. the spot. I heard a medical worker say, eleyi
ti ku na, which translates to this one is dead na.
I begged for them
18. to check him at least. They refused and told
us to go the General hospital. We took off again
inside a keke...
19. I was half-naked at the busstop begging bike
men, keke & anything on wheels to help lift my
brother. None answered
12. Long story cut short, my family is still
recovering from the trauma of that night.
Sometimes, my mum waits for us
13. to go to bed, before draining herself in her
tears. It has been months, but go and see my
mum now. She looks frail
14. and has been aging rapidly, thanks to over
thinking. When i don't pick my call, she goes into
panic mode. She might
15. never recover. I sent messages to
@YomiShogunle and @rrslagos767 and also to
@aleeygiwa. @aleeygiwa called back &
16. we spoke for minutes. I complained about
that busstop and that we reported to the near
by Police station, but they
17. refused to do anything. @aleeygiwa
promised to visit and check out the notorious
spot himself. I've been waiting
18. since January. Now, read carefully. After the
murder of my brother, i have heard that close to
a dozen people have
19. lost their lives to the same phone thieves at
Alafia busstop. I happen to know one. A young
and newly married man
12. who had a shop close 2 my street. I have
also met people who have escaped these
murderers by a whisker. The thieves
21. in Alafia busstop don't ask for your phone.
They stab you and then take it from you. On
Saturday, i was preparing
22. to head out for a soccer match when a
friend called. He sounded excited, like he just
won a lottery. ''Obi, he said
23. i just witnessed the lynching of a thief in the
same busstop your brother was murdered.'' My
mum was close by. so
24. i told her what my pal just told me. This was
what she said '' The spirit of Obinna(my brother)
will not rest until
25. his killers are dead. I didn't heed 2 calls to
go to a shrine. I know my son can fight for
himself, dead or alive''
26. See, it is easy to speak up against lynching
when you've never been a victim of these
fuckers. You don't have
27. nightmares like my entire family does. You
can speak up because you have never ever seen
your dad cry like a baby
28. over the death of his son, or your mum
continuously deteriorating as a result of over
thinking. Praying day & night
29. that she doesn't loose another child 2 these
murderers. I was defending d thief, thinking it
was truly a 7 year old
30. It just connected, when i saw the tweets
from @YomiShogunle confirming it was the
same thief that my friend called
31. about. If i was there, i would have personally
bought d fuel used in burning him. The thieves
had no plans to stop
32. Hopefully, when the community starts to
take matters into their hands and show these
retards that we mean business,
33. they might stop making families miserable.
And oh, these guys once threw a man off that
Alafia bridge for refusing
34. to hand over his phone. I am against
lynching by the way. But this particular issue is
very personal to me. Thanks

Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs

C. Ben Bosah A heart wrenching story, Theresa. Sorry about your loss. The situation obviously should be a call to action for all of us to tackle the underlying problems in the country.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Olu Oguibe So, Moyo, if you were not aware of any of these incidents, then, what are you doing? Where have you been? You care about Nigeria and you know all about how human life matters in Nigeria, but you obviously don't even know what's going on there, huh? And you're all eager to start digging for a corpse without even knowing where it was buried? How clueless is that? Please!

Like · Reply · 2 · 2 hrs

Olu Oguibe Ms. Ugwuanyi, no one can comprehend the pain you and your family feel. I have also lost not one or two but several family members to robbers, thieves and kidnappers going back to the early '70s when two of my cousins had their fathers murdered in their presence by armed robbers in two separate incidents. Both cousins were children like myself and neither ever fully recovered from watching his father murdered right in front of the family. Our latest family loss was only two years ago when my other cousin was kidnapped on her way back from church in Aba. We never saw her again. She was a poor woman with five children who're now orphans. In 1982 another cousin of mine was murdered and her body parts removed by ritual murderers, her body disposed by the roadside. She was living with her uncle in Nsukka while studying for her JAMB exams. She was very, very dear to me. That's forty something years of family loss to Nigerian criminals. So, when someone comes here and says that life has always mattered in Nigeria, they simply have no idea what they're talking about. Having said all that, lynching is never an appropriate response to alleged crime as you yourself acknowledge. The boy in the video that is circulating may well not be 7 at all; he could be 10, he could be anything, but it doesn't matter. His alleged crime is stealing garri, not stabbing someone or killing someone. Under no law, human or divine, does his alleged crime warrant or demand a public lynching. Having suffered from the crimes of the cruel and inhumane, neither you nor I can afford to also lose our own humanity.

Like · Reply · 5 · 2 hrs

C. Ben Bosah Oga Moyo Okediji and Oga Olu Oguibe, let us chill and have a fruitful conversation that produces some positive results rather than bickering to no useful end.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Jide Aje Not sure, I would describe their discourse as bickering.
It is actually productive debate-very healthy.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Olu Oguibe I don't know what positive results you expect, Bosah: to suddenly stop cruelty and savagery in Nigeria with a quick exchange on Facebook? Getting you two to face the fact that you're both in denial is positive enough for me.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Tobenna Okwuosa I don't support lynching, and I seriously doubt the garri stealing version of the story.

Like · Reply · 2 · 37 mins · Edited

Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju Why do you doubt it, Tobenna Okwuosa?

Like · Reply · 27 mins

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