Campus tragedies raise questions on trust, relationships, crime
A disturbing incident unfolded at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, where a final-year student named Oladokun Ayomide allegedly poisoned his girlfriend and another female student.
Though, the university cleared him, asserting it was not premeditated, Ayomide did in-fact buy the ‘spiked’ substances that poisoned the two girls.
Similarly, on October 26, the media was shaken by the discovery of the corpse of a missing 300-level student from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, Justina Otuene Nkang, in her boyfriend’s apartment.
The victim’s most recent video showed her dancing while being complimented by her boyfriend.
However, her decomposed body was later discovered with specific anatomical regions missing, such as breasts and genitalia.
These grim incidents echo numerous stories circulating on the internet involving fraudulent individuals, often referred to as Yahoo boys, engaging in fetish ritual activities.
Frequently, their victims are ‘close’ to them, raising questions about the authenticity of various friendships and relationships.
Parents have always stressed the importance of selecting friends wisely, and while many saw it as mere advice, recent events highlight the gravity of such advice.
Who is to blame?
Rita Chizara, a 200-level student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, highlighted to Radio Nigeria the growing influence of social media platforms like TikTok in fueling the urge to seek popularity and acceptance within society. She emphasised that this trend often pushes people into relationships that often end badly.
Echoing similar concerns, Ebube Ozor, a medical student at Enugu State University, urged young women to keenly observe warning signs before committing to any relationship.
Ebube said that some people might unknowingly exhibit symptoms of conditions like schizophrenia, and their potentially violent behaviour might become apparent later on.
The euphoria of love and money and its complexity
The saying “love is blind” rings true, yet the story also underscores the dangerous outcomes when the pursuit of wealth becomes the source of all wrongdoing.
Determining responsibility for these incidents becomes intricate—should it fall on the trusting victims, the people manipulating relationships, or the declining economy that drives some towards atrocious actions?
A 2022 report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that over 133 million Nigerians live in poverty, a factor believed by many to drive people to make desperate decisions.
Some sacrifice their lives in misguided attempts to achieve success, often influenced by the success of their peers without concern for the ethical source of that success.
Potential lessons
The highlighted incidents serve as a stark reminder of the crucial need for individuals to be cautious in their social circles. The significance of choosing friends wisely is underscored, with a clear recognition of the potential dangers that can stem from toxic relationships.
Trust is acknowledged as an essential component of any relationship; however, it is imperative to balance trust with verification. Blindly trusting others, particularly in the face of concerning behaviours or situations, is against caution.
Additionally, the incidents underscore the importance of community vigilance and proactive reporting of suspicious activities.
A collective effort from the community could potentially prevent tragedies by identifying and addressing concerning behaviours before they escalate.
Writing by Juliet Onwurah; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu