It was reported in the media that police “C” Division personnel

are actively seeking to apprehend persons responsible for the ‘crucifixion’ and murder of Nigel Low of Joe Singh Street, Sophia, Georgetown, whose nude body was discovered at just after 06:00hrs yesterday strapped to a Guyana Power and Light pole on the busy “B” Field, Sophia access road near Lane Drive.
The man’s hands were tied above his head, whilst his feet were bound with cement slings. Chop wounds and other contusions were visible on his head, feet, hands and back.
Persons making the discovery immediately raised an alarm, and residents from all parts of Georgetown instantly converged on the site to behold one of the most gruesome murders to have taken place in recent times.
This newspaper was told that the man, who had been a coconut vendor in a section of Georgetown, might have been in his late 30s. Speaking with this publication, a source close to the investigation explained that, following the discovery, persons living in the area contended that the man would usually steal from persons within the Sophia community, and would always evade capture and being turned over to police custody, since he always manages to slip away, or is never caught “red handed”, as was allegedly the case in the wee hours of yesterday morning.
The man was allegedly caught by some home owners attempting to cart off their assets; and it was later allegedly discovered that he had earlier burgled the homes of several other persons in the community.
It boggles the mind how people could be so cruel to kill someone in such a gruesome manner. This kind of behaviour is most unlawful and uncivilised. As a people we need to carefully and soberly assess the long-term effects of our actions.
In this case the family and dependants of Nigel Low are now without a breadwinner. So now it is not Low only who has suffered, but those innocent dependants as well. If Low had committed a crime or crimes, surely his dependants should not be made to suffer too.
It is understandable that because of the prevalence of crimes in our society everyone is concerned, but in this instance did the man warrant such a cruel killing? Certainly not.
If we are going to become a society where people are going to take the law into their hands, then surely we are heading down the road of anarchy and destruction. History has irrefutably demonstrated that any society where people do not abide by laws and take the law into their hands is doomed.
While we need to take an uncompromising stand on crime, we cannot allow our crime fight to degenerate into a vigilante/uncivilised approach. Therefore, we have to make every effort to guard against this trend becoming widespread in our society, because this can lead to the erosion of our democracy.
We have to be guided by the old adage: “Two wrongs do not make a right.” At the same time, we need to appreciate that violence breeds violence and this has not done any good for any society.
We just need to look around the world and observe what is happening in those societies engulfed in violence.
As a developing country laying the foundations to become an advanced society,we have to do everything possible to ward off any negative behaviour or tendencies of our people because development is not only about economic and industrialisation. It is also about human development which encompasses morality and positive attitudes and behaviour.