FG, Boko Haram And The Sanctity Of Life

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

The concept of the sanctity of life is anchored on the sacred nature of life, and the fact that no one has the right to take it away, except God. According to David P. Gusgee, a self-described Evangelical centrist,  and distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Executive Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Life, Mercer University, Atlanta & Macon, USA, all human beings, of any and every race, colour, ethnicity, level of intelligence, religion, language, gender, character, behaviour, physical ability/disability, potential, class, social status, etc,  are to be perceived as persons of equal and immeasurable worth and of inviolable dignity and therefore must be treated and protected in a manner commensurate with his moral status.

It is, perhaps, based on this concept that most nations of the world now frown at capital punishment. While it is true that capital punishment has been used in almost every part of the world, in the last few decades, many countries have abolished it. The crusade for the abolition of capital punishment is to further entrench the sacred nature of life. It is part of the need to protect the human life that nations of the world spend so much annually on security, health and other life related concerns. In most developed countries, much is being done to ensure that man lives in conditions that are best suited for human development as against the survival of the fittest mode of living that is the norm in most third world countries.

It is a well acknowledged fact that conditions in Nigeria are not really well suited for human development. With the majority of Nigerians lacking access to basic amenities of life, it is evident that lesser value is attached to the human life in this clime. Recent security situation in the northern part of the country has, however, further laid credence to this heartrending reality that life amounts to nothing in this country. That the incessant and uncontainable Boko Haram assault on innocent and defenceless Nigerians has continued unbated, is a pointer to how low we have sunk as a people in terms of the sanctity of human life. For over four years now, the sect has been unleashing terror on the Nigerian people, killing and maiming both the old and the young. On 26 August, 2011, the UN Headquarters in Abuja was bombed by a suspected Boko Haram suicide car bomber, leaving at least 21 dead and dozens more injured.  On 5  November, 2011, the sect killed, at least 67 people in Damaturu, Yobe State, leaving a new police headquarters in ruins, and government offices burned. On 5  January, 2012 , Boko Haram gunmen stormed a church in northern Nigeria and killed six people as they were praying. The catalogue of Boko Haram assault on the Nigerian people is endless.

It is ,therefore, not surprising, that their repulsive style of audacious attack on defenceless Nigerians has become a source of serious concern to Nigerians and the international community.  Just a few days ago, blood flowed, yet again, in Yobe State  In a Nolywood commando style attack, 59 helpless students were slaughtered like rams in a Government College by the daring Boko Haram sect. Before the Yobe dastardly act, the sect had attacked Maiduguri,  the capital of Borno, leaving in its trail, as usual corpses, sorrow, tears and blood.

In recent time, so much blood has been spilled in the land that people are now justifiably apprehensive of their safety. The agents  of death have become so daring that the quest for blood has moved to places of worship. Policemen, journalists, soldiers, youth corps members and other unprotected Nigerians, have suddenly become targets of cold blooded killers. The tragedy, sadly, is really not in these acts of blood spilling, it is in the Federal Government’s rather ineffective response to the cruel  act. So far, we seem to be getting used to a stereotyped form of response. First, different people pay visits to sights of gruesome murderous acts, commiserate with those involved, promise heaven on earth until there is another incident when the whole circle is repeated all over again.

We need to review our attitude, as a people, to the sanctity of human life. It is rather amusing that the Supervising Minister of Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike suddenly saw the need for the protection of Unity Schools, especially in areas prone to attacks, just after we had lost precious innocent lives. One really takes exception to the President’s shielding of the armed forces with regard to their handling of the security situation in the country. For the avoidance of doubt, the armed forces’ sole responsibility is the security of Nigerians,  and if current trend in the country shows that Nigerians are becoming susceptible to avoidable attacks, the armed forces must be made to answer for its seeming ineptness.    The Federal Government needs to do more than it is presently doing in its management of the security situation in the country. In as much as it is true that terrorism is becoming a global  challenge, there is need for the government to demonstrate more decisiveness in its handling of the Boko Haram insurgence. One primary duty of government, all over the world, is the protection of the citizenry. The present trend that exposes college pupils to gruesome attacks and premature deaths,  is, to say the least, intolerable. Imagine the agony, pains and heartaches that parents, relations, friends and colleagues of victims of Boko Haram and other militia attacks in the country are passing through. This is the time for government to rise up to the occasion by taking pro-active measures that would defeat the agents of death. We have had enough of bloodletting in the country.

It should, however, be emphasised that an effective public security cannot be guaranteed without the active involvement, participation and support of every segment of the society because public security is the responsibility of all individuals, groups, communities, organisations and other units that constitute the society. In as much as everyone in a society pursues varied interests, the pursuit of collective security should, nevertheless, be the common goal of all. The participation of individuals and non-governmental actors in the issues of public security is, therefore, a necessity for a secure society. It is in view of this that one is advocating the improvement of the criminal justice system of the country in such a manner that would guarantee faster and unbiased dispensation of justice to all concerned regardless of their social status. The only thing that could make evil to flourish in a society is for those that commit evil to repeatedly go scot-free.

•Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.