The Nwajiofors: A Couple From Hell

Comfort Obi

I know it would have been jungle justice. And I know it is uncivilised, and lawless. But I regret that the police in Lagos saved a couple, Elechukwu Nwajiofor and his wife, Chiamaka, from being lynched to death by an angry mob.
I have read stories of man’s inhumanity to man. I have read, and heard stories of cruelty meted out to house-helps. I have also read stories of women who starve their house-helps, and treat them like sub-human beings. But nothing prepared me for the animal that is the Nwajiofors.
The first time I read their story in newspapers, I sighed, shook my head, and wondered at such cruelty. But my anger boiled over on Tuesday, August 24, when I read the full story of their atrocity in the Vanguard newspaper. As I read the story of the murder, through torture, of their houseboy, Oliver, my heart was thumping so hard I feared I would have a cardiac arrest. How did God create these two, the woman in particular? You must have read the story. But for the purpose of this write-up, I will do a re-cap.
The couple – Elechukwu and Chiamaka – have just tortured one of their house-helps to death. According to the story, the victim, Oliver, 14 years, and two others, had been living with the Nwajiofors in Lagos. Initially, only one, Emmanuel, was living with them. But when Mrs. Nwajiofor became pregnant, her husband, through a friend of his, had two teenagers, Chukwuebuka and Oliver, brought from the village to stay with them. The boys were in school in their village, Ifite – Orakwue, Anambra state. But the opportunity to live in Lagos was irresistible, especially, as they had been assured they would also go to school. They jumped at it. They are not alone in the erroneous thinking that Lagos is a city of milk, honey and opportunities. It is like the erroneous impression that once you travel out of Nigeria, you instantly become a success. Going to America, for example. If only people know the indignity some of those who have travelled out go through. If only those who are languishing there would speak the truth about their condition, the exodus will reduce. A whole lot of people in the village don’t know that some of their children who rush to Lagos everyday in search of better life, end up in the streets, doing nothing. Atimes, they are forced into criminal activities to survive. But I digress.
So, Chukwuebuka and Oliver came to Lagos for a brighter future. They were wrong. According to Chukwuebuka, the first shock they had on arrival was the haggard, and unhealthy state of Emmanuel who had been living with the Nwajiofors. He looked hungry, ill, nervous, unkempt. So, they decided to go back to the village if that was the fate that awaited them too. But they have already entered the Lion’s den. And were stuck. Elechukwu and his wife threatened them with death if they ever, again, talked about going home. They threatened to kill them. They told them they would die in a vehicle accident if they dared to go back to the village. Then, the devil herself, Mrs. Nwajiofor, brought a Bible, and had the kids swear that they would die if they ever let anybody know of what they were going through.
Frightened, the kids endured the worst torture kids their age, or anybody, could go through. The nobodies at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison were better treated than them. They were often chained and beaten with belts, shoes, rods, pestles and more. For any little misdemeanor, the punishment was, almost, death. They were often chained, hands behind, and locked up inside the toilet for days. For that period, there was no food, no water. They were a living dead. That was the state of affairs until penultimate week when Mrs. Nwajiofor, allegedly, tortured Oliver to death. And what did Oliver do?
Almost dying of hunger while washing a basin-ful of clothes, he entered the kitchen, took a little fish that he saw, and ate it. That earned him the beating an angry mob wouldn’t give an armed robber caught in the act. Yet, that was not enough. She chained and locked Oliver up in the toilet for days. And beat him everyday. She never gave him food or water. Then Oliver’s body got swollen. By the time he was taken to hospital, he was dead. Just like that. Somebody’s child. Hear Chukwuebuka, Oliver’s colleague: “Three days before he died, his stomach started swelling, and madam was still hitting him with pestle, and she said it will cost them only N200,000 to cover the case up.” True?
Nigerians, particularly women, should rise up in anger. This woman is from the pit of hell. This is one case that must be seen to its end. What this heartless woman and her husband committed is murder. And they must not get away with it, even if Oliver’s family, out of poverty, decides to settle out of court. The photographs of the other remaining houseboys, Emmanuel and Chuwkuebuka, as published in the newspaper, spells atrocity. They have scars all over their bodies. What were the Nwajiofors doing with these boys? Ritual for money? Who knows? The way Mrs. Nwajiofor glibly talks about money is suspicious. Somebody this heartless, suddenly claims he rushed Oliver to Eko Hospital, Surulere, and paid N150,000. When did she become that caring? She also allegedly said she would close the case with N200,000. And I ask, why would they have three boys in the house as house-boys just because Mrs. Nwajiofor is pregnant? Why house-boys? It usually is house- girls.
The fate that befell Oliver and the others happens all the time in Nigeria. Children from poor background are given out as servants, and made to go through harrowing experiences. Nobody cares. Not even the government. It is a big shame.
There are laws in this country against torture, against child trafficking, against child abuse. But usually, those found guilty of breaking them go scot – free. There are people, especially, in Akwa Ibom state, who torture and kill innocent children, accusing them of witchcraft. They go scot-free. The laws are not implemented. And so, the situation worsens. People get more brazen with such abuses, hence the Nwajiofors. If these offenders are punished, and their cases made public, there would have been no Nwajiofors. This should be a test case.
The Nwajiofors did not only abuse these poor children, they tortured and killed one of them. They must face the full weight of the law. That is the only way Oliver’s soul would rest in peace.