The nation is again struck with another mind-blowing, hair-splitting case of murder in the seemingly unending litany of criminality.
Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of late Prof Dora Akunyili was killed in the most gruesome manner in the South-East, as we have learnt, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Akunyili, the wife, was an Amazon. Her era as the boss of the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) remains unsurpassed years after her death.
This killing brings back sad memory of how Dora herself escaped by the whiskers on December 26, 2003 when gunmen struck at her when she visited home town, Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
I do no know what fate has befallen two main suspects, Olisa Igbokwe and Christopher Mba, who were arrested as masterminds of the attempt on Dora’s life.
My Yoruba people say “Iku to ba si ni ni fila, ki a ma dupe” (the death that misses our head by simply removing our cap deserves our endless thanksgiving).
Dora’s husband was not so lucky in the early hours of today. He has been sent to his maker untimely and the rest of us are left to sulk as usual in our endless groping with the evils that have surrounded us.
But what could have been his crime? May be we will find out later. And may be, we will not. Nigeria may be one country perhaps with the highest number of unresolved murders in the world. Till date, the death of Chief James Ajibola Ige, a serving Minister of Justice, remains shrouded in misery even if “the killers are in our midst” in Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s voice.
Those who plot killings end up in our national democratic institutions and hold fine political positions and even pontificate about law and order, security and economy. They are targets for awards and honours here and there. Those widowed, orphaned and deprived as impacts of their nefarious acts are left in the lurch by the system. It’s a bad circle of evil.
Once again, Nigeria’s rising insecurity is exposed as we all strive to grapple with the implications of the fears that pervade the sky and the tragedy that hangs perilously in the air.
Chike is gone and the police will vow to find the killers. The Governor of his state will pay condolence visits and assure the family of support. Mr. President will mourn and direct the security agencies to find the killers. At his funeral, the clerics will charge the government to end insecurity. But the promises and fire-spitting will
fizzle out with every passing day after the burial.
And life goes on. Rest on, Dr. Chike Akunyili, another victim of the needless deaths that have become part of our national existence.
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