The news of Akwa Ibom popular photographer, Samuel Offong known among friends as 'Paparazi' reportedly shot dead by armed robbers at his residence in Uyo, has triggered concerns and reactions among social media users bordered on dysfunctional approaches of the state security agencies to protect lives and properties.
Read post by Edidiong Udobia as shared on facebook....
Few days ago, I heard a
shocking news that a young couple who got married last month in Uyo were
robbed in their house at gunpoint.
The trigger-freak robbers allegedly
shot the husband and carted away everything they could before they left.
"Even their wedding rings", someone whispered to me. Goodnews is, the
husband survived.
When I told the wife how much of an inspiration she
was to me, she said, "Thanks bro. Life happened to me. I'm even surprised at myself. Thanks again bro."
Eureka! I've found my perfect getaway phrase; "Life happened". Because I 'must be' a good citizen of my State, it should not be heard that I wrote anything capable of giving the state a bad image. After all, bad things happen everywhere in the world. It's not peculiar to my state.
Life happened to Hon. Ime Atakpa, he didn't survive. Life happened to Elder Nana Udom, he survived. Life happened to a certain town crier in Ukanafun who witnessed a robbery attack, he didn't survive.
But I can't write about these life happenings because arm robbery, assassination, kidnapping and the likes happen everywhere in the world.
While I was still enjoying my silence, life happened Sammy Paparazzi; a promising and hardworking young man.
The testimonies and condolences have been rolling in. In a matter of days, we'll all move on. Like other victims, life will go on after Sammy.
I have so many questions to ask. Questions like;
— These men who make life happen to innocent people, are they ghosts?
— How come our security agencies seem to be so quiet and lost in the face of these happenings?
— Why do we have more 'aggressive' policemen securing convoys and foreigners while our streets are left at the mercy of these underworld men?
— Will our security officers ever take the safety of the common people as important as that of the rich and mighty?
But, I cannot question the increasing rate at which life is happening to people in Akwa Ibom, because some young folks who love the state more than me will remind me of a journalist who was shot dead in Bayelsa recently.
They will remind me of the policeman who was killed during a bank robbery in Owerri recently. They will tell me that even the federal government has failed to tackle insecurity in the country.
They will tell me that insecurity is a global problem and not limited to Akwa Ibom so I should not 'demonize' the state before I scare investors away.
For them, as long as it's happening in other places, happening here is justifiable. So, who am I to question that?
Rest in peace, Sammy Paparazzi!
Life happened to you.
If it's true you died securing your property, you were right. Since no one could secure you and your property, you had to do it yourself.
Rest on, brother!
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