THE GRUESOME KILLING OF FWIMBE THOMAS
On Wednesday, September 27th 2023, Mr. Fwimbe Thomas, an old student of the prestigious College of St. Joseph (CSJ) Vom, in Plateau State, was killed by a mob in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
There are conflicting reports, but the most authentic version is that of his brother, who said in a Facebook post that Fwimbe was mistaken for a thief, and when a rendition of “thief, thief,” rent the air around Bali junction in Jos, he was mobbed and killed. Other less credible accounts say he was driving when he hit a motorcycle but refused to stop. When he was eventually stopped, he was killed by a mob.
Sir, the images which have so far circulated online are truly haunting – of a fine young man known for his matchless work ethic and bottomless integrity, killed by a feral mob of okada riders, vagrants, petty criminals and would-be bandits.
Sir, the law in Nigeria of which the Police are the chief enforcer is clear that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria codifies this, amid other salutary constitutional provisions of fair hearing.
Fwimbe was never provided any opportunity to be a Nigerian citizen under the law by the mob which killed him. His life was taken in the most agonizing manner by a those whose zero respect for the sanctity of human life was typified by the haste with which they took it.
Sir, you can only imagine the number of people traumatized by Fwimbe’s death. They include his family, friends, old schoolmates and the countless Nigerians who have retained their humanity despite the proliferation and popularity of Nigerians who make up the headless and heedless mob which killed Fwimbe.
You can also imagine the fear his death has sown in those who live in the immediate vicinity where he was killed, and those far away, who now have to walk on eggshells because they are unsure of the kind of people they share a country with.
We call for justice for Mr. Fwimbe Thomas, his family, friends and every Nigerian whose conscience has not been smothered by injustice and inhumanity. His killing is one too many, and the disturbing spate of mob justice incidents should shock the Nigeria Police Force into immediate action to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate all those who had a hand in his killing. They cannot be allowed to go scot-free.
They are worse than animals and as such, the only space reserved for them in the sane society that Nigeria is trying so hard to become should be behind bars.
Unless justice is served on both the dead and the living in Fwimbe’s case, there is no gainsaying that Fwimbe’s spirit will not rest. The numbers are stacking up to indicate a grave danger to innocent Nigerians, and indict Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.
The killers of Deborah Samuel, Usman Buda, Ahmad Usman and many others are yet to be brought to book. Those who killed Fwimbe must not be allowed to disappear into the vast crowd of killers who prowl Nigeria, looking for whom to devour.
Time is running, and the earlier the law reins Fwimbe’s killers in, the latter they will arrive at the venue of their next killing spree.
Nigerians still repose a measure of confidence in the Nigeria Police Force. Fwimbe’s fate risks eroding this confidence unless his killers are speedily brought to book.
Kene Obiezu Esq,
Abuja
