Many observers would agree with me that in recent times, there have been unprecedented criminal activities in our communities. Besotting in the minds of discerning citizens though is the fact that the suspects continued to have an unfettered fun. Even if they, the suspects, are found guilty, their gargantuan crimes often do not correspond with their punishments.

Indeed, the 1948 universal declaration of human rights gave mankind hope; for, it has epochal relevance in the day-to-day living activities of mankind. However, in my view, the proponents of human rights often goof in their interpretations. For, it goes without saying, routinely, criminals “get away with murder”, all in the name of human rights. In other words, criminals often get justice, while the victims and their love ones get the raw deal they do not deserve.

Of course, I am in acquiescence with the assumption that one is innocent until the individual is found guilty. Obviously, that is an honourable thing to do in attempting to unravel the jigsaw. But, my bone of contention then is, why should a murderer who has been found guilty in the face of admissible evidence is allow to live? Suffice it to say, ‘everyone has the right to live, according to Article three of the UNCHR.

Befuddling though, is the fact that Article One of the UNCHR states that: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Human beings are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

So, why must criminals take the life of another and get away with it? Needless to say, even the Holy Book, the Bible, tells us that whoever brandishes a gun should die from the gun. That, for me, is a pragmatic stance. ‘An eye for an eye’; although that will make the whole world go ‘blind’ (Gandhi).

And, why not, if that will indeed circumscribe the alarming criminal activities in our homes, on the streets and in our work places.

Shockingly, if we peruse our daily tabloids, turn on our Televisions and Radios; they are always reporting the flagitious activities of armed robbers. Obviously, I am not referring to petty thieves-pocket pickers, yam, plantain or cassava thieves. I am referring to thieves who are often equipped with machine guns, semi-automatic weapons, bazookas, and rifles.

They, the scumbags, are well marshalled, and they routinely carry out their infamous activities with military precisions, and can strike as lighting, and as deadly and destructive as molten magma.

It is my fervent hope that none of my dear ones, friends, minions, or even my enemies, ever fall a victim to these boisterous and homicidal scumbags. These armed robbers are indeed brutal, heartless, vicious, and are scumbags of the highest order.

If you inadvertently come into contact with these ‘homicidal brats, and fortunate enough to survive the ordeal, you will remain the luckiest person on the planet. In other words, an unfortunate encounter with these brats is simply the case of “a dead man walking”.

Indeed, the activities of these scumbags know no bounds. These scumbags wickedly go about ‘denuding’ their victims of their hard-earned money and possessions. And, they rape, maim, kill, and leaving their victims frightened for life.

Actually, the activities of these scumbags do not end on the highways alone. They, the brats, extend their activities to homes, banks, businesses, and market places. Therefore it is not surprising that after erecting beautiful houses, and installing doors and windows, you have to secure them with extra burglary iron proofs.

In actual fact, people have become prisoners in their homes, mainly due to the activities of these homicidal hoodlums.

It is also true that our brothers and sisters who are plying their trades abroad are frightened to visit home. Even if they do visit, they have to go about their activities with extreme cautiousness. Unsurprisingly, some of them do not even sleep in their luxurious homes for fear of vicious attacks by these scumbags. I am pretty sure many of our foreign based brothers and sisters have their own stories to share with us.

Honestly, these hoodlums are discouraging potential investors from making any meaningful investments in the country. Thus, it is incumbent on the authorities to curb the activities of the hoodlums.

We must not and cannot look on unconcerned and give in to potential nation wreckers. To this end, I will urge all Ghanaians to endeavour to collaborate with the security forces to ‘fish out’ the dissolute criminals in our midst.

Perhaps, some citizens are harbouring these mountebanks-armed robbers. And, whatever the reasons may be, it is inconsequential for a true Ghanaian to shield an armed robber. Of course, whistle blowing is volitional, however, betraying these potential nation wreckers will go a long way to brighten a corner!

To the executive and the legislature: Promulgate laws to protect the law abiding citizens.

As a matter of fact, we cannot and must not sit idly and allow these scumbags to win the battle; bring back the capital punishment in armed robbery cases.

To be quite honest, we should not be sending them to prisons and feed them, only for them to come out and terrorise us more. That, for me, is inconsequential. Let them swallow their own bitter pills! Exterminate them!

More importantly, we should not give in to Amnesty International, because they do not taste the insipid pills being given to us by the armed robbers. Annihilate them!

Again, I would suggest that any enactment should make it unlawful for anyone to knowingly shield an armed robber; the comeuppance for such act should be extreme.

And, in default of appropriate measures to curb the praxes of armed robbers, it will go down as ignoble on the part of the executive and the legislature.

Caveat: You are obliged to protect the citizens, denizens and potential investors, so, act now, because procrastination is not the solution to a potential problem!

K. Badu, UK.