For Feso – A beautiful life cut short

In honour of Oluwafesofaiye Aderuyi Osunsalu.

Feso was a lovely soul, a 300 level International Relations student of Greenfield University Kaduna. He was in his room – at their hostel when bandits stormed the private University on 21st April 2021 and abducted 23 students. The bandits later contacted the school, demanding a ransom of #800m for their freedom. Unfortunately for Feso and 4 others, he did not make it out of the kidnappers’ den! Their abductors decided to cut short their lives because their demands were not met! This is Nigeria’s fourth kidnapping from an academic institution in 2021, and the fifth since December 2020…

Who was Feso?

Feso was a charming young man who wanted to be a journalist, his dream was to work with an international organization. He was a gentleman with a heart for God and his kingdom. Time away from class or studying was mostly spent in church. He loved gospel music and was an ‘Angelical Dancer”.

Angelical dancing, also known as Praise dancing is a liturgical or spiritual dance that incorporates music and movement as a form of worship rather than as an expression of art or entertainment. Praise dancers use their bodies to express the word and spirit of God. This was Feso’s passion, and he formed his Angelica Dance Minstrel “House of David” which he was very passionate about. Feso totally embraced this form of worship and would dance with all his might.

Feso is a relative of mine, His uncle (mum’s brother) is married to my sister and so we are related by marriage. His family have been devastated since this unfortunate occurrence, especially his inconsolable mum who only just lost her husband less than a year ago. His sister Gbemi described him as a calm, jovial, reserved, caring and loving boy, ‘he was just a happy soul’ she added. All his aunties and cousins had nothing but good things to say about Feso. Feso was just one of those people that you could hardly find any fault in, he genuinely cared for everyone around him.

The ‘Greenfield Students’ as they’ve been tagged by the media have names. Just like every other person that has been murdered by insurgents, bandits or ritualist, they are people’s children, brothers, sisters, nephews, friends, people’s grandchildren! It’s heartbreaking to see how these young dreamers’ lives were unceremoniously cut short by heartless bandits who have been indulged by an inept government.

Where is our humanity gone?

A browse through the news these days will leave the most optimistic person depressed. Abductions, rape, sexual assaults of minors, ritual killings and the likes fill the news. It’s like humans have started losing their humanity!

The main difference between humans and animals include our ability to reason as well as our capacity to feel and show empathy. Our ability to love and have compassion has always been one of our greatest quality. However, with recent events, it is beginning to look like we’re fast losing these intrinsic abilities, how are we different from animals then! Some animals would never attempt some of the acts humans now indulge in.

In saner climes, harming any animal is unheard of. Birds fly freely, Squirrels scurry around happily even foxes sometimes make dens in people’s gardens but no one can touch them as there are consequences. In Nigeria, the present Government has failed to protect its citizens! Banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings and the likes have become the order of the day. Everyone is living in fear, and brilliant minds are fleeing the country in droves in search of not greener pastures anymore, but safer pastures.

Feso and his friends’ lives were taken without any thought. The countless sleepless nights, celebrations of milestones, efforts, prayers, love and devotion of their families thrown away like it was nothing, These were bright young minds with dreams and aspirations. They had plans, they had hopes of changing the world in their own way but this was taken away from them callously! Their sin – they wanted an education, but their government failed them. The government made no effort to get these children back home, they left them in the hands of heartless bandits, they were left to perish.

Till we meet again

I pray the remaining students are returned to the safe arms of their families soon. I do not want to imagine the trauma they’ve been through, seeing their peers picked and slaughtered right in front of them, staring death in the face, probably torn between praying for death or an escape, anything to end their ordeal.

This is for Precious Nwakacha, Sadiq Muazu, Yohanna Dorathy Tirnom, Abubakar Yusuf Sadiq and our very dear Feso. Victims of a totally spineless and uncaring government. You lived, you loved, you were here and you will always be remembered.

Rest well, Feso, dance with the angels now, that’s what you loved to do! Dance on Son, dance…

Similar A star has fallen!

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/07/africa/nigeria-kidnap-greenfield-university-ransom-cmd-intl/index.html