DESENSITIZATION
Stare into the eyes of the man beheaded in cold blood by the terrorists Nigeria has been accommodating.
What goes on in Nigeria today is absolutely abysmal. In fact, abysmal is a total understatement. Nigeria is in shambles.
I come here every time to write about Nigeria, Nigerians, and its dirty government and politics, but this time it’s different. Today, I mourn — we mourn — but in anger. This is about the death of a teacher who was kidnapped during the line of duty, alongside toddlers who were in school.
Are we really going to sit, pretend this is normal, and move on? Do we not get it? It probably hasn’t sunk into the hearts of many Nigerians, but Nigeria is a state under war. We don’t realise it because we aren’t affected by it personally yet. It’s coming. A year ago, those of us in the south felt some sort of covering, but it’s creeping in — slowly, yet loudly.
We have cried before, countless times, but our wails fall on the deafest of ears. We are like children who have cried their last tears until they are finally exhausted to sleep.
A teacher got slaughtered, Nigeria. Little children are being held in the custody of bandits. They are scarred forever.
It wouldn’t have crossed the minds of these citizens that they would become victims. It’s the same way we hope it will never get to us.
sigh
We go to church or mosque, or say a little prayer at home, asking God for mercy. That’s alright. But one thing is clear to me now — it can be anyone. You’re not too righteous. You’re not too filthy. You’re not exempted because you’re a prayer warrior. And you’re definitely not too young.
It’s Russian roulette, darling.
It’s not because you live in Lagos either.
What did Nigeria do to deserve such brutality? What did we do that we don’t deserve answers — not to talk about solutions?
We are stripped of our rights as citizens and forced to watch the innocent blood of our own spill on our grounds. We’ve become immune to loss and disappointment. We stare at headlines, shake our heads, and put those same heads to sleep without a trace of remorse or pain.
Nigerians are the walking dead — intentionally numb and oblivious. Waiting for the next bad thing to happen, shaking our heads for a second, then moving on within the next. We don’t cry anymore. We don’t mourn those the country has failed to protect. We’ve accepted it as our norm and scrolled on to the next headline.
Are we not cursed? Can we not see that this is abnormality and barbarism at its peak? Are we afraid to think about this? Do we fear depth?
Again — we live in a state of war. The government is as good as non-existent. Taking matters into our own hands is our best bet. Stop being numb. Staying mute is being a coward.
A man is innocently beheaded in cold blood, and the government is offering rehabilitation to the perpetrators?
Rehabilitation is for individuals with addiction, disabilities, and impairments. These people are terrorists. Mercy should not be an option.
What in the world? I’m asking myself if this is even up for discussion. It is a bloody insult to the loved ones of the victims and to Nigerians everywhere. This is a reiteration that the government sees Nigerians as fools — that their lives mean nothing. Nothing.
A state of war is a state of anarchy. It’s time we acted like it.
—From the dirged mind of Aggy.
Share the word if you agree.