Nigeria is a country where the scales of justice seem tipped against the innocent, where the very pillars of law enforcement are shaken to their core, what hope remains for the common man?
It was 2019 when a notorious criminal, shrouded in controversy, escapes the clutches of justice with ease. Chaos erupted as the IRT team of the IGP squad apprehended this villain, only to face a barrage of attacks by soldiers who set the criminal free and even took the lives of some brave officers who dared to stand against them. Three policemen and two civilians perished, while five officers suffered grave injuries.
Now, let's fast forward to today. That same criminal, a kingpin of kidnappers, responsible for snuffing out countless lives and instilling fear into the very soul of society, has been handed a mere slap on the wrist. Can you imagine the agony of those who lost loved ones to his heinous deeds? Can you fathom the anguish of knowing that justice has been twisted into a mockery?
What message does this send to aspiring criminals?
The precedent set by Wadume's short-lived stint behind bars serves not as a deterrent but as a beacon of hope for those with nefarious intentions. Indeed, other criminals has witness that crime pays, that evil deeds are met with leniency rather than the full force of justice.
Nigeria has become a land where the cries of victims too often fall on deaf ears, and are left grappling with the aftermath of a broken system, where criminals roam free and the innocent tremble in fear. This is the harsh reality of a nation where justice is but a distant dream.