The Mubi Massacre

In most civilized countries, any time there is a story of a gunman or gunmen entering a campus to kill a student or some students, it is usually a big tragedy that would draw the attention of all the citizens and that of the world. And until the killers are found, the

media would not let up in following the story. But it is doubtful if the

  Independence Day dawn tragedy that claimed no fewer than 26 students (if we choose to go by police figure), will catch our attention for long. We are so used to tales of this kind of mindless violence that Nigerians are gradually getting used to them to our collective shame.

  I saw the gory photographs of the victims of the brutal massacre yesterday and I still fail to understand how anybody (or group of people) would plan and execute such atrocities. The story is that unidentified gunmen stormed the off-campus accommodations of students of Federal Polytechnics Mubi in Adamawa State, called out a list of names and then began to open fire. With that, several families are now mourning the loss of their sons with the nation left traumatized. Yet to compound the situation, it is not likely that the killers would ever be found or anybody brought to justice on account of the mass murder.

More unfortunate still, there is now a controversy as to who was responsible for the killings given conflicting stories but is that really important? The real issue is that our society has degenerated to the level in which life now makes little or no meaning. But as I keep appealing on this page, it is time for all men of goodwill who can help to reign in the entrepreneurs of violence to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.

By Segun Adeniyi