Nigerians demand justice for Aluu4

It has been a year and two months since the murder of four undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt – Ugonna Ibuzor, Llyod Michael, Tekena Elkanah and Chidiaka Biringa. They were killed in Aluu, Rivers State. They were allegedly beaten to a pulp and then set ablaze by an irate mob over allegations of theft.

The incident, captured on video by eye witnesses, attracted widespread outrage and was tagged the most bizarre case of jungle justice to ever occur in Nigeria.

The trial judge, Justice Letam Nyordee, of the Rivers State High Court, had on October 18, granted bail to four of the 12 suspected killers. They include the paramount ruler of Aluu community in Port Harcourt, Alhaji Hassan Welewa;  Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo, and Chigozie  Samuel. They were also granted bail in the sum of N2 m and asked to provide two sureties in like sum.

However, the first and the eighth accused persons were denied bail, as the court held that it did not find sufficient basis to grant their applications.  To preserve the memories of the late students, the Four Friends Dream Alive Foundation was unveiled on October 5, in Port Harcourt, to commemorate the one year anniversary of their death.

While the outrage, which hitherto dominated the news, has relatively simmered down, emotions once again ran high recently after the video of the sad episode was posted on Twitter, thereby reminding Nigerians of the ugly incident. The reaction has been an out pouring of tributes and renewed calls for justice.

Also, images of the tragic incident have been posted on blogs and news websites.

While the ‘Aluu 4 of Port Harcourt’  Facebook page created as ‘a movement seeking justice for the four University of Port Harcourt students,’ has been inactive, perhaps, owing to the ongoing ASUU strike, Nigerians have shifted the camapign to Twitter.

Author Okechkuwu Ofilli is one of them. After publishing pictures of the deceased students provided by their relatives, he canvassed support for the cause.

He wrote, “We can fight this fight. All they need from us is to keep their children in the news cycle so that the courts know that we are watching and that we will not be silent if justice is stolen from them.

“Report the news, post it on your blog, ping it, Whatsapp it, Instagram it, let it spread. It’s the little we can do.”

Also Jennifer Akporere revisited the sad episode in a series of tweets, which read, “Ok, let’s just assume it is true that the Aluu Four actually robbed and stole millions from a bank. Should they be killed like that?

“So their parents should just call it a day and accept that it’s part of life?’’

Akporere went further to initiate a petition on behalf of the slain students.

She announced the latest move on Twitter whilst urging her followers to sign, “Ok guys, so I couldn’t help myself and started a petition for the Aluu Four Follow the link and sign the petition,” her tweet read

Chydee also lent his voice to the campaign,  saying, “I wonder what happened to the 13 people who were indicted for their role in the tragic incident. Have they been tried? Convicted? Killed?”

James Abinibi wrote, “Reminds me of the incident. I’m sad! I could not hold back my tears.”

Splash wrote, “We still haven’t forgotten: It’s been a year and two months…but we still remember them.”

4 lives cut short. Gone but never forgotten. Their voices still cry for justice. RIP.

 by Jayne Augoye