By Daily Sports on October 31, 2016

The depressing news of Izu Joseph’s murder by the Nigeria Army penultimate week in Bayelsa State bleeds my heart. Foremost, it opened yet another sad memory and chapter in Army/civilian relationship. It also brought to the fore, the moral question of tenacity. Nigeria Army that is funded and maintained with hard earned tax payers’ money mercilessly opened fire on helpless and harmless citizen Izu Joseph. This no doubt calls for a sober reflection.

The above headline just came to me as a flash, after I had read series of cooked up denials and make up cock and bull stories by the Army on the killing of the player.  I have been following the very unfortunate story on one of the players that made NPFL thick and interesting.

A recap, when the news broke, I read the side of an eye witness, the pathetic one from his Dad, his wife, the Players Union, then the bicycle story from the Army.

Some of us are familiar with the bicycle story by Rtd. Major General David Ejoor, former Governor of old Mid-Western State. He told Rtd. General Yakubu Gowon that he escaped being captured by Biafran troops that surrounded Benin City with bicycle, he rode through the bush parts for three day before hitting Lagos to report to his then Commander in Chief. The Army is still enmeshed in this kind of tales even when they are caught red handed.

Yes, I read these vivid accounts, only that of the Army was quite different and strange, filled with loopholes. But I thought, by now the Military High Command in Abuja would have told the Bayelsa unit to shut up or own up because there is overwhelming evidence against them.

Shamefully, they have continued denying the obvious. I am scandalised and shocked to the bone marrow, asking, what has gone astray with our sensibilities. Why would a trigger-happy lunatic in Army uniform waste the life of a dutiful and promising lad just like that, and still criminally denying.

The Army has succeeded in saying nothing meaningful. Though, Nigerians have reached the state of unshockable due to the uncountable atrocities that people commit and go free. However, the whole world as usual is keenly watching one of such cases, the killing of Izu Joseph, a defender with 3SC of Ibadan.

To say the very least, Izu’s murder is callous and dirty. The Army has been making bogus and unconfirmed claims that are also provocative.  Let me categorically say, I am tired reading the tissue of lies from the Army. It makes my anger boil over to high heavens. I put myself in the shoes of the slain compatriot and saw how helpless he was during those dark hours he came face to face with the mad dog. His explanations could not save him. The lunatic soldier may have been dead drunk with their usual stuffs combined and Izu Joseph was like nothing to him. Life that is precious becomes bull shit to this kind of animal carrying the tax payers’ gun.

Let me confess that it was from the slippery, watery claims and counter claims by the Army that I arrived at the headline. It showed my complete discontent, frustration, helplessness and deep sense of outright betrayal from the Army, showing the way we perceive our fellow human beings. It further provoked my inner thinking and I ask where our refuge is as citizens of this sharply divided jungle called Nigeria that long lost her innocence.

Injustice everywhere. Boko Haram’s quest to wrestle political power has rendered the North-East hopeless. Now, Fulani herdsmen are deliberately being unleashed on Southern and Middle Belt states to do what Boko Haram could not visit on them after so many foiled attempts. I digress.

The trick Army is playing on the death of Izu remains devastating and has put me in the state of nonplus. This frustrating macabre dance by the Army was exactly the kind of scenario former First Lady, the very erudite Dame Patience Jonathan found herself during the better forgotten days of self-inflicted insurgency which prompted her to make the now famous pronouncement, “There is God-o!” Some mischievous persons deliberately made political mountain out of it. She has long been vindicated. That is the extreme tight and confused situation the Army has placed this reporter and many numerous fans of the murdered player.

Since Izu was untimely sent to the great beyond by the Army, we have been knocking on their door, our simple, but legitimate request to the Army after going round the circle must fish out the trigger happy and overzealous brute among them to answer for his unprofessional conduct. I used to believe the Army is careful when it comes to Army/civilian relationship and unnecessary waste of lives until certain unbelievable things began to happen.

I quickly, distanced myself from the blood tasty beasts. From time when I was 20 years I knew the Army is full of themselves regarding others like second class citizens. For Izu, the carnage is one too many and must not be swept under. He was holidaying in his home state, Bayelsa after a very hectic season and as a person that grew up in a riverine community, like many others, he preferred having his bath in the river. That was what he finished doing before the Army lunatic snuffed life out of him.

I must salute wholeheartedly, the forbearance of the Nigeria Players’ Union. They had been in the fore front crusading that the killer of one of their own be fished out. They have been consistent in their quest for justice. The Army has been grandstanding.

The footballers in their robust characteristic have stoutly rejected Army’s cultism claim on Izu Joseph. The National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) has debunked claims making the rounds in military circles that its slain member, Izu Joseph of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan was a cultist, describing the claim as an attempt to cover up.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Malachi Ugwuanyi, National Legal Adviser to the body, expressed concern that the footballer “was shot from the barrel of the guns of the Nigerian military.”

“In the light of the above, we as the recognised labour union passionately championing the cause of professional footballers in Nigeria are concerned that the said player was shot from the barrel of the guns of the Nigerian Military.

“Consequently, after a careful appreciation of the unfortunate event we hereby clarify the following:

“That we condemn in strong terms the manner Izu Joseph was killed by the military.

“That we debunk heavily with disappointment and annoyance, insinuations by some in military quarters that the said player was a cultist and view it as a calculated and frantic attempt by the perpetrators to exonerate themselves from their grave act.

"That a professional and mercurial player like Izu is too occupied with his career all year round to be robed in with such allegation.

“That the Union is in active discussion with the family of the deceased to earthen more facts and other sundry welfare issues.”

The Union further called on the military to accept responsibility immediately for the death of the player “and eschew denials because Sports loving Nigerians will not allow them gloss over the matter.”

The Union also said it has petitioned the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Attorney General of the Federation, Minister for Sports, Nigerian Football Federation, Trade Union Congress, Senate and House Committees on Sports; and urged all Nigerians to join hands in ensuring this matter is not swept under the carpet, and that the family of the slain footballer gets justice and their welfare catered for.

The Union pointed out that the NPFL 2015/2016 season ended with spectacular performances from some clubs, and provided a little space for players to go on break and relax ahead of the new season, but “we were shocked to receive the news of the death of Izu Joseph, a mercurial defender of Shooting Stars of Ibadan.”

If you have read the above, I will say, there is nothing more to add than the needful listed to be met. This is an open wound that would not heal no matter what is brought forward. It will be painful to the heart and sadden too if this case is treated like that of the Unknown Soldier. Everything distasteful continues to take roots in Nigeria unchecked. Izu, we will intensify our cry for justice until your killer is found. Trust, we will. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 31, 2016

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