By James Akpan
Sorrow, tears, wailing were flowing for the slain Akwa Ibom born job seeker, Iniubong Umoren
At the age of twenty six, she will reside beneath, precisely six feet underneath, alone and lonely.
She did not dream of such a life neither did she know that her end will turn out to be that way.
But, it happened that her life be cut short by someone or some people due to dubious and greed as the case may be.
She in this context is not a criminal, not a sinner, but an innocent, intelligent, and resourceful young lady, late Miss Iniubong Ephraim Umoren, an Akwa Ibom born young lady who met her untimely death in the course of searching for a job.
Iniubong Umoren was in April 2021 lured to Uruan Local government area with job interview as enticing element, but was later raped, physically assaulted and murdered, according the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
She was awaiting Call up by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, after graduating from the Department of Philosophy, University of Uyo.
With her death, all hope become dashed and sorrow, tears, wailing and disappointment become the order of the day for the family and the entire Nigerians.
When the late Miss Iniubong Ephraim Umoren graduated in 2019, little did she know that she would not live to utilize her certificate which she obtained for duration of four years in the University of Uyo.
The deceased job seeker, a graduate of Philosophy died in the course of looking for a source of livelihood to fend for herself and siblings.
One would be quick to mention that Iniubong Umoren would have not died at this time, even when it is appointed for man to die.
Some are of the opinion that the outbreak of Coronavirus might have contributed to her untimely death, because she would have been mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps programme if COVID-19 infection did not ravage the world, thus affecting the NYSC programme.
If at all she was mobilized, observers say she would have not fallen prey to the antics of the die hearted alleged murderer, Uduak Frank Akpan who took advantage of her current situation to perpetrate his heinous act.
Others have opined that if the late Iniubong Umoren was gainfully employed, what   befell her would have not happened.
But these can never stand as excuses for one to take advantage of her up to the point of murdering the innocent job seeker.
For whatever reason, the gruesome murder of the youngster is condemnable, alien to the culture and capable of causing everlasting grief on the life of the family members of the slain job seeker as well as paint the country as unsafe.
Prior to this time, Akwa Ibom was regarded as one of the most peaceful States in the federation and with the current wave of inhuman action, one may think otherwise.
Be it as it may, there is the need to examine critically the immediate cause of this abnormal situations with a view to finding lasting solutions.
One of the things to consider is unemployment, hence, the creation of more job opportunities for the teeming youths to help them become gainfully employed.
There is the need to open up employment for the youth instead of the practice of placing few job applicants on man know man basis.
Throwing up employments for young graduates will help to address the current situation of unemployment and redirect the attention of youth from societal ills.
Another area of concentration is paying attention to the boy child.
Parents, guardians and teachers should look at the male child to avoid raising mentally imbalanced individuals who may become treats to the girl child and other individuals in the society.
What has happened in the case of Iniubong Umoren should be a wakeup call to government at all levels to consider the employment of people, especially those already working for them casually in ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The show of concern by individuals and government since the murder of Miss Iniubong Umoren is an indication that what affects the eyes affect the nose.
But more than this, the government should employ one or two family members of the slain young lady and help institute a project in the family to serve as a remembrance.
The Government of Akwa Ibom State and the Government at the center should open mass employment for the youth.
Kudos to president Muhammadu Buhari for the institutionalizing the National Social Investment Program, NSIP in which N-power program is embedded.
Nigerian youths would be happy to see immediately deployment of the Batch C successful applicants as this would go a long way in engaging the youth in useful ventures.
Additionally, security of lives and property should be beefed up in all nooks and crannies of the Federation.
As it concerns the murderer, Uduak Frank Akpan, justice should be pursued without compromise from any of the investigating bodies as that would serve as deterrent to others.
Kudos to the House of Representatives for its swift action directing the Inspector General of Police to take over full investigation and prosecution of Iniubong Umoren’s murder.
The House at its Tuesday’s Plenary through a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Mr. Unyime Idem called for the protection of the family members of the deceased.
If this is done, then Nigerians can heave a sigh of relief and be happy that justice is done although such would not bring back the life of the young lady.
On the other hand, it has been noticed that homicide has become the order of the day in recent times in and outside the State as the life of innocent persons have been taken without recourse to repercussions.
For instance, on December 21, 2020, a final year student of Engineering from the University of Uyo was allegedly murdered in cold blood in his apartment in Uyo by a pastor.
Also on January eleven, 2021, a resident of Abak road in Uyo and native of Etinan Local Government also met his untimely death when he was allegedly killed by an NYSC member serving in Akwa Ibom State.
There are many other unreported cases of murder in the society which calls for intensified safety mechanism by individuals and corporate entities.
In view of this, all must be vigilant and reports any strange activities to help in the fight against crime and other negative activities in the society.
