Mehkurydiaries

Thirty-seven people went into custody in Niger State. They did not come out alive. Many were artisanal gold miners. Some were teenagers. They had been arrested during raids on suspected illegal mining sites. They were suspects—not men sentenced to die in a locked room. Accounts of what happened remain disputed. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps initially suggested a disease outbreak. Survivors told Reuters that nearly 70 detainees were crammed into a cell measuring roughly five square metres before officers allegedly sprayed an unidentified substance. The cause of death is now under investigation. The investigation must establish the facts. But the moral fact is already standing in the doorway: arrest is not conviction. A uniform is not a small courtroom with no appeal. Nigeria has grown dangerously familiar with punishment arriving before judgment. The poor are arrested first, explained later and sometimes buried before the paperwork learns their names. The presumption of...

  Power has a peculiar smell in Nigerian politics. It draws men the way lanterns summon moths into flame. Every election cycle, a procession begins: senators, governors, lawmakers, and political drifters abandoning the opposition for the ruling party with the swagger of pilgrims who believe they have finally reached salvation. They cross carpets, wave brooms, chant new slogans, and kneel before cameras like repentant sinners entering a cathedral of power. Then the primaries arrive. And suddenly the cathedral becomes a slaughterhouse. The recent humiliation of defectors who fled to the APC expecting automatic tickets deserves to be studied in political science classrooms as a masterclass in ruthless power management. The ruling party welcomed many of them with smiles sharp enough to cut rope, allowed them to dance at rallies, pose for photographs, insult their former parties, and declare loyalty with theatrical enthusiasm. Then, when the real business began, the party machinery q...

In a significant stride towards progress, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, inaugurated a diverse assembly of 31 Commissioners yesterday. The event, held at the esteemed Dan Archibong Lodge, was marked by a solemn charge for these individuals to uphold their duties with a profound sense of responsibility and diligence. As the curtains unveiled, the gathering showcased a commendable gender balance, with 7 women and 24 men joining the ranks of Commissioners, standing as a testament to the state's commitment to inclusivity and equal representation. Addressing the assembled Commissioners, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu articulated his aspirations for their tenure, emphasizing the pivotal role they hold in propelling Cross River State towards an elevated trajectory. "Your stewardship carries with it the power to propel our state to new heights," he asserted. He further exhorted the newly appointed officials to embrace their tasks with a combination of di...