One of the suspects (Left)
I
have skimmed through the list of alleged online fraudsters indicted by
the FBI, in what is regarded as the biggest scam bust in history, and I
could see familiar names.
In the heat of the lynching of Igbo citizens in Asia in
2013 over alleged criminality, I wrote an essay entitled, ‘The Igbo
fallacy’. In it, I appealed to the Igbo to de-emphasise the culture of
profligacy, decadent opulence and vanity which fuels the pursuit of
crime by their own. I also suggested the need for value re-orientation –
a task that must be actuated by all groups – the age grades, unions and
traditional institutions.
Really, it is enervating for me that my kinsmen are taking the
inglorious front row in ‘’money crimes’’ – drug peddling and internet
fraud – abroad.
In August 2016, an Igbo drug dealer was guillotined in Indonesia.
But his funeral in Anambra was a rambunctious shin-dig. He was even
described as a “hero” by his people.
I have skimmed through the list of alleged online fraudsters
indicted by the FBI, in what is regarded as the biggest scam bust in
history, and I could see familiar names. It is heartbreaking for me. The
refrain that criticising your own people for shortcomings is an act of
sanctimony is obtuse. Crime has no ethnic face, but does that imply
condoning or rationalising a persistent ill?
I have said it before, we have a problem. The Igbo have a problem.
Out of the 21 Nigerians on death-row for drug peddling in Indonesia, 20
are Igbo – from my state – Anambra. Personally, I feel violated by this.
A few months ago, some armed robbers of Igbo origin launched an
attack on a bureau de change in Dubai, but they were arrested. It is
painful, instead of exporting the durable products of Aba, we are
exporting crime and violence. That Nigerians are a pariah in South
Africa is partly due to the activities of some Igbo drug cartel.
But what happens when these drug gangs return to the south-east? A
bazaar of bloodshed. A few years ago, there was a massacre at a church
in Ozubulu, Anambra. The killings were linked to a drug war between
rival gangs in South Africa. The gangs took their battle out of the turf
to native soil. Really, we are baiting the hurricane.
And now, out of the 77 names listed for online fraud in the US, 74
are Igbo. We have a problem. We cannot solve this problem by living in
denial.
I agree, there are millions of us doing great things in our fields,
but we must condemn the activities of these criminals among us. They do
not represent us, but their actions are capable of making an execrable
impression of all us.
The argument that the Igbo are marginalised and that they are
deprived because of the civil war, so very few among them are forced
into crime is puerile. This is a terrible way to rationalise a problem
that dents the entire group. There is no excuse for crime.
One drop of dirt is enough to make a basin of water impure. We must have serious conversations on this atypical criminality.
The argument that the Igbo are marginalised and that they are
deprived because of the civil war, so very few among them are forced
into crime is puerile. This is a terrible way to rationalise a problem
that dents the entire group. There is no excuse for crime.
We have a culture that glorifies ‘’money’’ crime – ‘’ego mbute’’ –
the culture of money grubbing and worship, as the-be-all and end-all of
everything. It is a pervasive culture, not limited to the Igbo though.
We need value re-orientation, and this should be actuated by all
groups – age grades and traditional institutions. We must stop
celebrating people of unknown fortune. We must name and shame those with
illicit wealth in our communities. We should upbraid them instead of
giving them chieftaincy titles and front-row seats in church.
What exactly do we discuss at annual August meetings and town-union
meetings? Enough should be enough. We cannot keep ignoring this filth.
We have a problem. A crime culture.
Written by Fredrick Nwabufo
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