Today marks the 12th anniversary of the tragic Aluu killings, where four young men—Chiadika Biringa, Favour Erikena, Ugonna Obuzor, and Toku Lloyd—were brutally lynched and burned to death in Aluu, Rivers State. These students of the University of Port Harcourt, who were also the first sons of their parents, fell victim to a false accusation of theft, leading to their untimely and gruesome demise.
The incident, known as the Aluu Four lynching, was a case of “necklacing,” a form of mob justice where victims are tortured, beaten, and set ablaze with tires filled with petrol placed around their necks. It took place in the Aluu community in the Obio/Akpor local government area.
The events leading up to this tragedy began when Ugonna, one of the victims, sought to recover a debt from a man named Bright. Troubled by the amount owed to him, Ugonna enlisted the help of his cousin Lloyd, childhood friend Favour, and roommate Chiadika. Together, they visited Bright’s home late at night, carrying items such as a penknife, axe, and cutlass, intending to intimidate the debtor into repaying what was owed.
However, a misunderstanding ensued during their encounter, which escalated into a fight. A neighbor heard the commotion and wrongly accused the group of attempting to steal laptops and phones. This sparked an immediate and violent response from the community, with a mob forming to apprehend the students.
Despite their innocence, the four students were chased, captured, stripped, and mercilessly beaten by the mob. They were subjected to unimaginable torture, and though police officers were present, no one intervened to stop the killing. A sister of one of the victims, Tekena, tried desperately to save her brother and his friends but was powerless against the size of the mob.
The lynching was recorded on a mobile phone and circulated widely across Nigeria and the world, exposing the harsh realities of “jungle justice” that remain prevalent in the country. The horrific event led to several arrests, and on July 31, 2017, nearly five years after the incident, the Rivers State High Court sentenced Police Sergeant Lucky Orji, David Chinasa Ogbada, and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (also known as Kapoon) to death for their involvement in the murders. Four other suspects were acquitted.
In their memory, Nigerian rapper MI Abaga released the song “Ashes,” commemorating the lives of the four students whose deaths shocked the nation.
12 years later, they remain forever in our hearts.
