3rd May, 2011
And so the bell finally tolled for the world’s most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, the fugitive leader and founder of the deadly terrorist organisation, Al Qaeda.
The Al Qaeda leader was killed Sunday Night in Abbottadab, a town in Pakistan after a 40-minute deadly operation carried out by US special forces on the order of President Barack Obama.
A small team of US Navy Seal raided the three-storey compound in military choppers and shot bin Laden in the head, killing him instantly.
Reports had it that the Al Qaeda leader used a female aide in the house as a human shield but was killed along with the woman after a firefight with his guards. His trusted courier, his brother, one of bin Laden’s sons and the the woman used as a shield were killed in the 40 minute operation.
While he was alive, the name Osama bin Laden struck terror into every heart. Americans dreaded him like the plague and had done everything possible to neutralise him. Their relentless efforts finally paid off when the deadly Arab terrorist was found in a home belonging to one of his trusted couriers in a street inhabited by retired military officers from Pakistan.
The home, according to reports, had no telephone or internet access and its fence is higher than other buildings in the area. Osama bin Laden, it was learnt has been living in the mansion said to be worth about a million dollars since 2010 and it was there that the US intelligence got wind of his presence.
The dead terrorist will be remembered for the bombing of the famous 110-storey twin towers in New York during which more than 3,000 people lost their lives on 11 September, 2001. He will also be remembered for sponsoring terrorism throughout the world. Members of his group were responsible for the death of many innocent people through suicide bombings and guerilla warfare across the world.
Expectedly, the Americans have been celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden. The US president in a nationally televised broadcast described his death as welcome, saying that justice has been done. The British Prime Minister also described it as a great relief.
The lesson in the death of Osama bin Laden to the world is that no matter how long it takes, no evil shall go unpunished. No matter where evil people hide or run to the long arm of justice will catch up with them and they will be brought to justice.
Osama bin Laden thought he could escape justice after the 2001 attacks on the United States by running and hiding in caves. But he failed to take into reckoning the determination of the American people and their leaders to ensure that he pays for the blood of the innocent people killed on that day and in subsequent terror attacks carried out by Al Qaeda cells throughout the world.
Certainly the chicken has come home to roost and Osama bin Laden has been made to pay with his blood. It is our hope that others in his shoes will retrace their steps and toe the path of peace and engage in acts that promote world peace rather than terrorism. It is also our hope that with the death of Osama bin Laden, the needless bloodshed around the world, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, perpetrated by Al Qaeda terrorists will stop. It should be clear to them now that they cannot achieve their aim through terror campaign.
The death of Osama bin Laden should also be used as an opportunity by the American government to foster cordial relationship with the Muslim world.