Soka ‘evil forest’: Time to act right

Recently, Nigerians woke to the sad news of a bizarre discovery somewhere in Ibadan, Oyo State, a coven where fellow Nigerians were being held hostage and slaughtered. The motive of the killings is still a subject of investigation by the police.

The forest, which has since been described as “evil forest” served as a killing field, where kidnappers unleashed terror on fellow citizens.

Reports had it that over hundred corpses and   human parts in various degrees of decomposition littered the entire area.

As expected, the Oyo State government, Inspector-General of Police and other individuals and organisations screamed foul and let out some curse words against the perpetrators.

The IG vowed he would not rest until he had dug out the brains behind the satanic activities at the place called Soka village.

In a fit of anger, the Oyo State government revoked the Certificate-of-Occupancy of the piece of land where the discoveries were made, and quickly moved caterpillars to pull down some structures used by the evil men.

It was, however, gathered that there had been complaints in the past to the police on suspicious activities inside the forest, but that no action was taken in response.

Officers at the Sanyo police station, which is the closest security post to the scene of the crime, were said to have treated the complaints with levity.

While we commend the prompt responses of both the state government and the IG, we quickly point out that the emotional outburst must be matched with practical action, not only to properly police the area henceforth, but also to beam searchlight on other spots where activities of the Soka village nature are daily taking place.

We are aware that there are many similar places going by what is being reported on a daily basis in the media. People have come out to talk about their miraculous escapes from such covens after days of captivity and torture.

It is not enough to tell the people to go about their activities without fear, Nigerians want practical example from those whose primary responsibility is to protect them and their property. On a daily basis, people are being ferried to slaughter slabs by the “One Chance” operators.

The police must up their game by restoring the confidence of citizens. The habit of shouting, condemning and screaming as the only responses to loss of many citizens or each time discoveries of the Soka village nature are made does not answer the question of how to rein in the ugly trend.

Nigerians have passed this route before, where after assurances by both the police and government nothing came out of the investigations.

In the case at hand, it may not be surprising that after these hues and cries, and much grandstanding, the police and Oyo State government soon forget the matter. But we strongly appeal that this should not be the case.

Some years ago in Lagos, a man called Clifford Orji was discovered somewhere around the Toyota area on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway allegedly killing and eating human beings. When the area was searched, there were human parts. At a point, members of the public were told the man was mad. However, it was later gathered that he was in the police cell. It is now over 15 years the picture about what happened to Mr. Orji eventually has remained a secret.

It is our belief that unless perpetrators of such heinous crimes in society are named and shamed, others will continue to tread that pernicious way.