OUR NATION HAS GONE MAD AGAIN

Image courtesy PenciledCelebrities

We look on with ‘orgasmic’ pleasure or with sheepish nonchalance as an alleged armed robber is lynched. As he lay writhing in excruciating pain, seeing his very life fading away moment by moment, our bloodthirsty cravings heighten and we watch with elation as the ‘neigbourhood Rambo’ lifts his hefty club to administer the exterminating blow. The misguided citizen journalistic tendencies in us awaken and we take out our smart phones and jostle each other for that ‘magical’ shot of the death strike. We gleefully share the gory images on social media with captions such as ‘otwea’ – it serves him right or ‘a similar fate awaits all armed robbers.’ We care less because after all he’s an ‘alleged’ armed robber and not related to us. Are we mad?

A few days ago, we were awaken to the unpalatable news and horrendous images of how Capt. Maxwell Adam Mahama, a distinguished officer in the Ghana Armed Forces was mistaken for an armed robber and inhumanly exterminated in a small town in Ghana called Denkyira-Oboase. He was clubbed, pelted with stones, rocks, concrete blocks, and even his mortal remains torched. How sadistic! His crime? He went jogging to keep fit to protect the very morons who curtailed his promising life. Utter madness! Our nation has definitely gone mad again!

But the question that begs for asking is this, “is this news?”

“Is this the first time we have experienced such animalistic barbarism appareled in a cloak called instant justice?”

“Is this the first time bystanders gleefully film with their cell phones as a helpless ‘man’ is slaughtered in broad day light?”

“Is this the first time we have witnessed people callously demanding the blood of a suspected robber?”

Your guess is as good as mine.

Though this beastly phenomenon of meting out instant justice to an alleged robber has been with us for ages, the images that we saw of the last moments of Capt. Maxwell A. Mahama’s life are simply heart wrenching – especially knowing that it was being perpetrated against a gentle soul. This was a man who could have rightly chosen to defend himself violently, but rather exhibited gentle humanity and grace over violence by choosing not to use the loaded firearm he carried.

I have heard a section of our populace calling for the army to raid the now infamous town of Denkyira-Oboase and slaughter the morons in retaliation. I know how we all feel and the adrenaline running through our veins as we view those gory images, especially those who knew the young army officer closely. I would categorically condemn such a call as misplaced and misguided, and only equals us to the blood hounds who killed Capt. Max (as he is affectionately called). Such a retaliatory action would only go on to entrench the vicious cycle of violence and mob action.

When did we become so bloodthirsty?

When did we lose our humanity?

Are we so mad?

It is about time we all say no to mob justice. We live in a country of laws. And we must make our laws work. There’s nothing wrong with questioning or even effecting the arrest of a suspicious character (the law allows for citizens’ arrest). But that is where our authority ends. We must hand such people over to the police UNHARMED and allow the law to take its course. The perpetration of violence is not part of our rights as citizens.

The barbaric images of Capt. Maxwell Adam Mahama’s last moments on earth should serve as a rallying call for us to end the unwarranted bloodbath called mob justice.

Today it is Capt. Max.

Tomorrow it might be your son,

Your daughter,

Your brother,

Your sister,

Your uncle, aunt, friend

Or even yourself.

Let us cure our nation of this madness.

Say no to mob justice.

R.I.P. Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama.

NB: This article is dedicated to the memory of every Ghanaian citizen who has been a victim of mob action.