Human beings are creatures made after the image of God. That means they are supposed to be higher than animals. They are expected to think and act better. But what we are seeing these days suggest that even animals are becoming better. At least animals protect their own and do not go beyond certain boundaries. Today, human beings no longer set boundaries. Everything is considered okay, no matter how revolting.
The major scourge of humanity today in Nigeria is what is known as ritual killing or killing fellow human beings in the belief that it will yield money. No week passes without news of one killing or the other by people being reported.
These are people desiring to make money they have not worked for. The trending one is a case in Anambra State, where a pregnant nurse was lured by a young man in the pretext that she was coming to attend to his sick mother. The young man killed the nurse and took some of her private parts and dumped her in the bush.
We have read and heard stories of children killing their siblings or parents in order to make money and these days, the age range of those doing these things is shocking. They are often youths in their teens or early twenties.
What has led us into this? Do they really think that killing fellow human beings will give them money? Are these children raised in homes? How can these people kill others in cold blood and manage to lead normal lives?
As the saying goes, no smoke without fire. It is difficult for any normal human being to descend to such sordid levels unless they are under the influence of drugs. This is why many countries have taken far-reaching measures against drug traffickers. We believe that those selling drugs are doing society the greatest harm as those who take those drugs quickly transform from rational human beings to animals.
This being the case, we call on the appropriate authorities to emplace tougher measures against illicit drug dealers to serve as a deterrent to others. We feel that the current efforts have not been enough. Drug taking is responsible for the commission of most crimes and those behind the production and selling of such drugs should face serious punishment.
We recommend that nothing short of a life jail sentence should be given to proven illicit drug dealers, while the places where they are produced should be taken over by the government just as is being done to kidnappers. Without sellers there won’t be buyers.
Apart from ritual killing, those under the influence of such drugs drive recklessly and cause accidents on the roads. They easily pick fights and are usually violent. These people should be declared surplus to any decent society.
We also recommend that enlightenment campaigns be launched in schools in order to etch into the minds of the young ones that drug taking is dangerous to both the body and mind. Clamping down on drug sellers is a task that must be done.
