The dream died

The dream died

What is life without Nosa? How am I supposed to carry on, now that they have killed my breadwinner. Life without my son is meaningless... He was an easy going young man who very early in life learnt to paddle his canoe since he lost his parents at a very tender age. Besides, he has since turned out to be the family bread winner.

She disclosed that the hardworking Nosa does menial jobs, no matter how lowly, all in an attempt to provide for the family and was saving to go back to school before his life was brutally cut shot. She would never forgive and forget until justice is done.

Nosa Emmanuel sat under a mango tree in company of his friends at Oveseri Street, Off Oguola Street, Oliha Quarters, Benin that fateful Saturday. They had just come back from a building site where they had gone to do some work and were trying to arrange for the next day's work.

Nosa, 25, had been elected the Secretary of Oliha Youths Association (OYA) while Osayemwenre Enabulele is the Chairman. Just as they were settling down for the meeting, Enabulele's eyes fell on the tools which they had brought from the site. He called on the secretary and another member, one Osagie Edemakhiota, 22, to go and keep the tools in the store. "Make it snappy", he ordered.

He adjusted his seat, waiting for the two to come back before the meeting could proceed. Suddenly, he heard the screeching of automobile tyres. Enabulele looked back and saw a blue Concord Mercedes Benz pull up at the far side of Oveseri Street. It was closely followed by a Peugeot 504 station wagon. A tall muscular man alighted from the Mercedes Benz just like the other four occupants of the peugeot. They all walked towards the mango tree. Leading the team was a man he easily recognised as a policeman who lives in the next street, identified as Inspector Okhue. Closely following him and with what looked like a walking stick was the Chairman of Edo State Vigilance Committee, Mr. Samson Obaseki.

They soon got to where Enabulele and others were sitting, and swung into action like commandoes. Okhue who is attached to the vigilante Committee brought out his gun. Obaseki lifted his "walking stick" up and pointed it at them. It was then they all realised that it was not a walking stick but a pump action gun. The youths risked being shot if they tried to be smart. "Nobody moves and nobody gets hurt. Just stay where you are", they thundered.

Continuing, Enabulele explained that with guns in hands, two of Obaseki's men were detailed to watch over them while the policeman led the vigilance group to the store where Nosa and Osagie had gone shortly to keep the tools. Then, a shot rang out and there was a scream. Another shot... and another scream. Minutes later, Obaseki and the policeman returned to the mango tree and warned the youths to mend their crooked ways or else... Then, he bundled two others into the Peugeot car and drove off. He threatened fire and brimstone.

When they zoomed off, the youths and some good neighbours who heard the gun shots immediately rushed to where Nosa and Osagie were and met them lying down in the pool of their own blood. Osagie was writing in pain on the floor. He had been shot on the wrist at a very close range.

The chairman said sadly: "Osagie told me that they had just kept the tools in the store and were about locking it up when Obaseki and Okhue lumbered in. 'This is the boy' the policeman said as he pointed at Nosa. He was not even allowed to say a word in self defence. He didn't even attempt to arrest him. After shooting Nosa dead, he then shot Osagie on the wrist. He is recuperating at Central Hospital".

Enabulele swore that OYA is not a neighbourhood gang and that it is strictly an association of young men which among other things tries to protect the common heritage of the Bini people. "We are on the guard against people dumping refuse in the moat and also excavating sand from the wall. We also mend roads in Oliha area and engage in manual labour especially at construction sites so that we could raise money for our activities", he explained.

But against this background, why would the policeman who ordinarily is supposed to be a friend, zero in on Nosa, Osagie and OYA members generally? Have they been engaged in acts of terrorism in the neighbourhood?

The chairman, sandwiched by other members of the association who all wore long faces, explained that everybody knows the policeman in the neighbourhood. He is a tough man and has never really got in the youths' way. But the bubble burst on a hot Friday afternoon, last February 23.

According to him, at about 4 pm on that day, a Peugeot 504 station wagon with government registration number (he couldn't remember the exact number) suddenly pulled up. The driver parked at Idiedo Street, Off Oguola and jumped out of the vehicle like in an emergency. People were scared but nobody dared challenge him, most especially as he was armed. Okhue was in the company of four other men, apparently members of the Vigilance group.

When the policeman saw one Osaretin walking down the street, he pounced on him, demanding that he should take him to where Nosa and two other fellows, all members of OYA were holing. Alarmed at the sudden metamorphosis of Okhue, he rushed in to find out what was up. It was then that the policeman was said to have told him what was on his mind. He had gathered from his fellow policemen that the youths were in the habit of "settling" some other policemen in the neighbourhood with large sum of money. Now was his turn. He wanted his own very handsome cut or else...

The secretary was said to have told the policeman off. He was not going to give him a kobo because OYA was not engaging in any illegal activity. The association was fully prepared to come under the scrutiny of law enforcement agents and was ready to face the wrath of the law if found wanting in any way. The chairman added that he personally intervened when he got to the scene. He didn't want any trouble and was prepared to pay N2,000 instead of the N5,000 which the policeman demanded.

Peeved, the policeman was said to have told Enabulele that he was not even ready to accept N4,999. It's either N5,000 or nothing. They had a choice or they risked being branded as hoodlums who have been terrorising the neighbourhood. "I told Okhue to go jump into the lake. I couldn't take it. The man was just blackmailing us. Nosa, too was very upset", Enabulele said.

Cursing and swearing to have it on the youths, Okhue was said to have driven away. As a policeman and a member of the Obaseki-led vigilance group, he was licensed to maim and kill", he allegedly reminded them as he angrily drove away, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Looking back, Enabulele lamented that if only they had taken the Inspector's threat serious! "We all thought the policeman was just acting tough, trying to play the role of a macho man. Maybe he wanted to browbeat us into parting with our hard earned money. Well, we didn't take him serious because we are not a criminal gang and are prepared to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction to prove our innocence. But if only we had known...", he mused.

The OYA boss and his men later took the body to the Central Hospital. That was not before they had gone to the nearby Ogida Police Station to make a statement. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was quite sympathetic and immediately despatched two of his men to the scene and saw the lifeless body of Nosa, while Osagie was bleeding profusely from his wrist. He was afraid that the assailants may come back for him.

Even now that Obaseki and Okhue are being detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the youths are not pacified. They are crying for justice. Last February 26, they stormed the state House of Assembly with placards and demanded to see the Speaker, Mr. Mathew Egbadon to present him a copy of the petition which they wrote Mr. Musiliu Smith, the Inspector-General of Police.

To Nosa's paternal grandmother, Mrs. Ayo Ojo, 75, things can never be the same again because of the gruesome murder of her grandson. Looking forlorn, Mrs. Ojo explained that the deceased lost both parents when he was just two and she has brought him up solely thereafter.

With tearfull eyes, the septuagenarian is earnestly crying for justice. She vowed that Nosa will not be buried until the culprits are prosecuted. Even then, she is yet to accept the reality of not seeing her dear grandson again. "They killed the poor boy because he is an orphan who has nobody to stand for him. If the father was to be here, nobody will do such a wicked act to his son and go scot free", she lamented.

She said she has not taken her bath since the death of Nosa. She would have grabbed the killers and passionately pleaded with them to kill her if she had set her eyes on them. "What is life without Nosa? How am I supposed to carry on, now that they have killed my breadwinner. Life without my son is meaningless", she wailed.

Looking pensive and with her left hand on the chin, the greyhaired swore that her grandson was a model who never caused trouble in the neighbourhood. He was an easy going young man who very early in life learnt to paddle his canoe since he lost his parents at a very tender age. Besides, he has since turned out to be the family bread winner.

Now, the youths are scared stiff that intrigues might set in which could end up truncating their quest for justice. Glory Omobude, the Treasurer of OYA and a bosom friend of Nosa is afraid that the Vigilance group may end up using his connection among top government officials to frustrate the trial.

The youths are not relenting in their quest for justice. They have since contacted a Benin based attorney, Mr. Faith Osadolor. In a two-page petition to the Presidency dated February 28, 2001, Osadolor wrote that OYA is an association of law abiding youths who are interested in the legitimate development of their environment.

He added: "While the police have been doing a very good job as per the justice of this gruesome murder and extra judicial killing, we urge you Sir to direct the Inspector-general of Police to promptly take over this matter for proper investigation.

Osadolor remarked that unless the justice of this case is not only done but also manifestly seen to have been done, the right of life guaranteed and entrenched in the constitution secured after a thorny and tortuous struggle would lose its real meaning.

Mr. Akin Ezima, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command confirmed the shooting and explained that Obaseki, Okhue and the youths were presently being detained. The case, he admitted, was a serious one and the police are still investigating.

Ezima assured that in accordance with the law, the suspects will be charged before a competent court as soon as investigations are concluded. "I appeal for calm. Nobody should take the law into his hands as the police are fully in charge of the situation and will ensure that justice is done", he assured.