LATEST UPDATE: Of evil forest and political will to discipline culprits
Inevitably, thousands of Ibadan residents trooped to Soka, a place now christened “evil forest” to catch a glimpse of its ritual killers’ den, which according to people, had been existing since a decade ago.
My impression is that at least the executive governor and chief security officer of the state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi was there to see things himself and I feel he deserves some commendation as the issue at stake borders on sanctity of human life as opposed to the wanton rituals for blood money or political power.
The governor did not waste time in revoking the certificate of occupancy of the expansive forest. He was appalled by the human skulls which filled everywhere as well as the improvised slaughter slab made by god-forsaken hags, where their victims were slaughtered and their decomposing bodies as well as some lucky but emaciated captives yet to be slaughtered.
He wondered why such odium was tolerated for such a long time and ordered an investigation of the wickedness obviously with the goal of bringing culprits to justice.
The governor’s disposition inevitably elicited questions in my mind one of which is whether or not the governor has the political will to really get to the root of this ritual killers den? Will he be really interested in bringing the culprits to justice no matter whose ox is gored? His response might well be in the affirmative owing to the emotions the wickedness had elicited.
As I reflect on the tragedy and with the hindsight of similar experience, my prayer is that God Almighty who exposed the atrocities at Soka should also grant the governor the political will to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion, to a point that many Nigerians who heard about it will heave a sigh of relief that justice indeed has been done. My sincere desire as a mortal being with emotions, is that I would not like the governor’s promise to end up as one of those political statements leaders make in Nigeria.
It’s because of the Okija shrine debacle which is still fresh in our collective memory and which the press gleefully swarmed upon but after a short while it paled into insignificance. Former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun talked tough and kept hope alive that the names discovered at the shrine would be made public, but it was forlorn. Besides Okija shrine, the media was awash with Clifford Orji’s story too. As the story broke, some Nigerians thought he was insane and others said he feigned insanity and that big men in our society patronized him at night. I seize this medium to commend the Nigerian press for its patriotism since the colonial era, but I believe it has to do more of investigative journalism that will really expose the powerful untouchables in the society who are behind these atrocities.
I was elated when Sahara Reporters in particular started exposing the dirty financial deals of some of our leaders which led to their being probed by the National Assembly. The point is, even if nothing comes out of the probe, at least Nigerians now know those behind their economic woes. The implication of this, is that it will serve as a deterrent to others who would like to toe the same line. Those who still have some decorum will no doubt try to save themselves from the embarrassment of seeing their names and pictures in the social media.
The beauty of social media is that while illustrious sons and daughters like Wole Soyinka, Balarabe Musa, Dimgba Igwe, Femi Adesina, Dora Akunyili, Oby Ezekwesili to mention but a few keep receiving accolades from Nigerians because they have written their names in gold, others who are tormentors of Nigeria either through corruption or ritual killings to get to political offices will also feature in the media. All hands must be on deck to expose and punish evil in our land.
A comparative evaluation of some of the happenings in Nigeria glaringly reveal that they are alien to the cultures of some other countries around us in the same continent. Why are we like this? Why is it that we appear to be experts in being notoriously evil? Prophets in the land will only tell Ahab what he wants to hear and not the mind of God.
We see hollow and ritualistic gymnastics going on here and there in the name of praying for the nation to come out of its woes and these prophets and pastors parley with Ahab and are not ready to tell him the truth. A nation guilty of blood cannot make any meaningful progress politically, economically and socially. Nigeria is indeed guilty of blood-letting daily unleashed by Boko Haram terrorists, ritual killers, witches and wizards, kidnappers and cultists on our campuses. It’s also possible that some babies delivered in the so-called baby factories across the country end up in rituals. Why should we continue to sin and expect grace to abound?
Nigeria no doubt needs repentance more than national conference. Peter Wagner, a popular evangelist and pastor led the United States of America on behalf of their fore fathers in prayers of repentance and restitution over their role in the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Prior to these prayers, United States missionaries in Japan were not making progress in their missions, but when through divine revelation they got to know that the blood of those who died many years ago in that bombing was still standing against them, they embarked on prayers.
In our beloved country today, the blood of the innocent people killed during political strife, for rituals and by Boko Haram is really crying unto God. The recent visits by the president to churches where they will tell him only what will please him or to the Pope at the Vatican will not erase the blood on the necks of current political leaders, only genuine repentance and restitution will do. This is because the holy book says whosoever covers his sin shall not prosper. Once again, I pray that when the six people apprehended over the evil Soka den in Ibadan begin to sing like canaries and more names of the well-connected and the powerful are mentioned, he will not develop cold feet.
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