Furies at work!” is a signpost that must be taken seriously by serious-minded Nigerians, who have a genuine desire to figure out what lies behind the inexplicable increasing cases of social insecurity. It is also necessary to know that the phenomenon of increasing insecurity is a global, rather than, a Nigerian affair. It is quite right that patriotic persons should show concern over the sad situation that we find ourselves, including calling relevant state authorities to organise a security summit to discuss the predicament. Furies, as the term is used here, would refer to violent entities, created artificially and sustained in their existence, by human passions, ill feelings and inner conflicts over unfulfilled longings. Such artificially created entities can also be called phantom, for they bear immaterial or invisible forms, spectral and dangerous, though illusory but alarming. Without going into the power and ability of humans to create artificial entities through emotion and thought process, it would suffice to say that such delegated power has been used for wrong purposes rather than right ones.
We have heard about step-mothers beating 5-year-old children to death and housewives pouring boiling groundnut oil on the body of a sleeping husband. Whatever excuses and provocations that may account for these acts of bestiality, the truth is that the impetus and origin of such actions often go beyond the persons giving vent to the emotional outbursts. Truly there is a valid admonition to guard our heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. In scientific academic studies there is the theory of conservation of matter, but what needs to be added here is that human passions, thoughts and volition are in the category of material substance. Thus, artificially created entities originating from humans, gather and coalesce, to form units of energy according to different kinds of human emotions that created them. Thus, the furies mentioned here represent one unit of active, energy-centre whose contents represent what violent emotion can do. Sadly, there are many of such energy-centres, existing without geographical boundaries.
Questions have been asked regarding where these artificial entities live and have their being. Without going into the structures and spheres of Creation, let it suffice to say that the earth is surrounded by an electromagnetic layer wherein every volition and emotion originating from humans, are captured and stored. Such electromagnetic band surrounding the earth serves, among other purposes, as a protection for the earth and also as a memory bank or record for everything emanating from humans. When a baby is born the blood running in the body contains elements of the child’s natural history (DNA). Therefore, the totality of human activities and emotions, individually and collectively remain conserved in a vast brain box or memory bank, irrespective of geographical boundaries. But there is such a wonderful classification system which can never be faulted or corrupted or even erased from the storage bank. With the furies as one of the innumerable contents in an invisible archive, it is to be expected that radiations from that energy-centre would flow, like lightening flash, to person or persons expressing an appeal to such centre of power. Witch!
Expression of an appeal to an energy-centre takes the form of intensive passion, long-held frame of mind or burning desire, coming from an individual or individuals having similar mindset or longing. Like prayers and supplications, individuals and groups can also make appeal which connect them with centres of energy which harbour the contents of such supplications. If, for example, in the process of engaging in a terrorist and violent act, a group of persons pray for a successful venture, such appeal goes to the furies who unleash and give added impetus to violence. Sadly, participants in violent activities would have harboured such propensity for a long time, coupled with the consumption of narcotic substances prior to operations. Whatever the motives or goals intended to be achieved in violent operations, it is the human volition which drives the action, while the furies respond and give impetus for successful operations. Mechanism of creation is such that impetuous and persistent demands coming from human volition can be granted irrespective of the nature of such demands. But there is always a price to be paid for all abuses.
Current situation in Israel, with the unleashing of violence from a terrorist group, and the reprisal following such attack, illustrates how the furies work. Mindless and without conscience, the furies are activated and deployed for service through human uncontrolled emotions. When unleashed, their violence destroy not only those who call them up for service, but also a wider circle of unsuspecting persons in the neighbourhood. Thus, the furies know no boundaries, neither do they intrude without being summoned. The mechanism of influx of violent radiation into the minds and consciousness of large groups of similar-minded people is a complex but just measure based on asking and receiving. The human volition serves as a steering rudder which determines what the mind summons for any purpose. It is quite sad that the furies can also take possession of the mind and consciousness of their devotees, including leaders of groups of people, who serve as channels for the expression of violent propensities. Humans provide the possibility of connection and expression.
The situation of overwhelming helplessness in the face of rising insecurity and criminality originates from the inability of humans to control and check their emotions and thoughts. Truly, he that ruleth his spirit is mightier than he who conquers a city. Sadly, humans judge might and valour by acts of violence, intellectual cleverness and the ability to act arbitrarily and get away with it. But real might and power lie in such knowledge which recognises the perfection of the Creator and the immutable Laws which express His Will.
Management of increasing insecurity and criminality would include and begin from managing the source of all issues of life: thought process or personal volition. Then, justice is the foundation of life, demanding that past wrongs be made right by atonement and penitence, without unleashing violence which invites the furies. How these can be managed constitutes the real test of governance – personal and state. Humanity is passing through an era of harvest and a visitation of the past, with the furies at work, to close existing cycles of liabilities. Truly, vengeance is the Lord’s!

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.