A kidnapped man’s wife: Chief Udeogu Ukaegbu, who narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North and settled in the village, was kidnapped immediately he settled down to restart his business in the village. A sympathizer who accosted the man’s wife questioned: “Madam, what are we hearing?” “Yes, Sir. It is true. Neither home nor abroad is safe anymore. See how we have escaped from the cobra’s burrow and entered the lion’s den. Had we known we would have remained in the North? We are confused and terrified to the marrows. From where can we get the 20 million naira the kidnappers are demanding?”

A Nigerian, Mr. Uzochukwu Igwe, who had lived in the United States for more than 40 years was fed up with the white man’s system and lifestyle, and economically depressed decided to pack his belongings and headed back home to Nigeria. His wife and kids refused to join in his flight. At home, the embarrassed relatives, including the aged parents questioned him: “Man, have you gone crazy”. What have you returned home to do, when most Nigerians are fleeing the land and emigrating to America and Europe?” Response: “You people wouldn’t understand. You know nothing! You can’t figure out what I have suffered under the heavy hands of my wife.  The girl I did everything possible in life to help and bring over to America, is now a big Registered Nurse (RN) and earns a lot of money, ten times, what I had earned in a year. Before her I am nothing, just like a houseboy, a non-entity! She does not cook or clean the house. She sleeps during the day and expects me to take care of the kids too.  I can’t stomach that any more!”

(After 6 months sojourn in Nigeria, Uzochukwu returns to America). Someone questioned:

 

“Man, what is going on? Are you back to the United States? Why are you back” Response: I can’t narrate my ordeals in that country called Nigeria; just within 6 months I was fed up with everything. Neither the big cities nor the villages are good for any level of human life. There is no light, no water, and no good roads. Our political leaders are just doing what they like. There is no life in that country. The worst is that the state of insecurity has tripled in Nigeria. They kidnap someone and demand $20,000,000!  I am done with that fatherland……From tragedy to catastrophe!

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KIDNAPPING SPREE IN NIGERIA

It seems that intimidating fear has equally gripped the most protected, including government officials, politicians and some outspoken social activists. Not even news of the capture and destruction of hideouts of kidnappers seems to give any death-blow on the nefarious activities of the evil men in Nigeria. No. Their activities rage unabated. Many Nigerians living abroad and who regularly visit their loved ones at home don’t care for such visits any more. Everyone fears he would be kidnapped in his village, even though they have never been rated as wealthy citizens.

Recently a close-door conference was organized by some Nigerian elder statesmen in the United States. Some concerned Nigerian professionals and citizens living in London also attended.  Some selected eminent Nigerians from various ethnic groups were invited to discuss this irritating problem of kidnapping in Nigeria. It will be interesting to give a synopsis of the outcome of that important meeting. It was really a right step in the right direction, a way of finding some solutions to the problem.

If our lawmakers and traditional rulers would do as much as private concerned individuals in the Diaspora, perhaps peace may return to this troubled region of West Africa. The invitees included retired and active politicians, traditional rulers in the Diaspora – Ndi Echichi, Chiefs, Ndi Nze na Ozo, young and the elderly -  businessmen, security officials, academics, professors of economics, sociology and psychology,  pastors of souls and medical doctors. A lot of well-researched papers were presented at the meeting and the extraordinary topic was discussed and hotly debated under the following headings. We can only give a summary of the outcome of that conference.

 

(1)     Original Sin and Criminality.

(2)     Why the evil is thriving in Nigeria

(3)     The boys work for the grand masters

(4)     The collaborators are many

(5)     Tracking down criminals

(6)     Solutions to the problem of kidnapping

(7)     Local Militia to rescue?

 

(1)     ORIGINAL SIN AND CRIMINALITY

No. The problem of evil came into existence right from day one God created the universe. The ancient Biblical myth of the Original sin and how it came to affect mankind, in fact dramatized the perpetual battle between good and evil. That was why the Bible said that ‘God regretted for having made man’. So, good and wicked people will continue to dwell side by side in the modern world, as they have been from time immemorial. That was how and why Cain killed his brother Abel.

Then a lot of directives to correct human behavior came to be coded into laws since life began on earth and has continued to develop. Everyday new laws are enacted to control human behavior. Many human beings go contrary to the adopted code of laws and so came into existence, jails, and detention camps for criminals’. This is why many countries and states also prefer capital punishment, head-for-head, tit–for-tat’ in dealing with the most cruel and evil people.

The main intention of the youth in Nigeria engaging in kidnapping and violent crimes is to make money quickly. They like to go by the footsteps of the extraordinary rich Nigerians and our politicians who make great money by taking to politics. These young men have lived and seen how a former poor man has become rich overnight, and they know how. It has not been by hard work, not by any drop of sweat, not even by winning lottery or jamming a fortune left by a benefactor or well-known wealthy parents, dead or alive. The young people join any gang that they share their life styles and learn the trade of making easy money.

 

(2)     WHY THE EVIL IS THRIVING

A very important reason why kidnapping and that sort of easy-money-making business is surviving in Nigeria is that our people, brothers and sisters, parents, and closest relations support anyone, (not only kidnappers) who succeed in bringing huge sums of money home, no matter from where and how the money came about. Parents, wives who know the nefarious activities of their sons, daughters and husbands welcome these happily and with open arms when they return from their ‘operations’. Parents and closest relations who know the criminals don’t care to confront them when they grow too rich. They share the wealth with them.

 

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ONLY IN NIGERIA

Rev. Fr. Dr. Nathaniel I. Ndiokwere

Catholic Diocese of Orlu

St Patrick’s Parish Amagu Oru East L.G.A

Phone: 08183268757/08036755501

Email:.

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