WHEN EVIL WEARS RESPECTABILITY  

Evil rarely announces itself,it does not always arrive with violence,chaos,or obvious cruelty.More often it comes well dressed,well spoken, and well respected.It hides behind titles, achievements, philanthropy and public admiration.This is the most dangerous form of evil, the kind that wears a mask to shield its real identity.

      Society has long been conditioned to associate evil with visible monstrosity, we expect villains to look and behave like villains; yet history has repeatedly proves otherwise.

   Some of the most harmful and deadly individuals have stood at 

podiums, led institutions, inspired  

trust and also commanded reverence. Their power did not come from fear alone but from belief, belief in the image they themselves carefully construct.

        The mask of respectability is not accidental, it is cultivated.

Prominent individuals learn early that reputation is a form of protection. Success,influence, and social standing create a shield that deflects suspicion.When accusations arise , they are often dismissed as misunderstandings, jealousy or malice .

 The higher the status, the thicker the mask.

       The society is one of the insidious reason for this evil by sustaining it, we prefer comfort over confrontation, questioning a respected figure feels disruptive, even disloyal institutions often prioritise stability and image over truth, silencing victims to preserve authority.In these moments not only is the mask worn by the individual, but is reinforced by the collective.

   Psychologically , those who commit harm while maintaining a virtuous public image often justify their actions through rationalisation.They separate their public identity from their private behaviour, convincing themselves that their good deeds outweigh their wrongs.

This moral compartmentalization allows

them to function without guilt even as damage accumulates behind closed doors. When the mask finally cracks or falls off as it inevitably does, the reaction is rarely immediate justice, disbelief often replaces accountability.

      The cost of masked evil is profound. It erodes trust, normalises silence, and teaches society the wrong lesson .It tells victims that power outweighs truth and warns others to remain quiet if they wish to be believed.

    To confront this kind of evil, society must learn to value accountability over admiration, respect should never be unconditional and that moral clarity requires courage, the courage to question,to listen,and to accept uncomfortable truths. 

   Naomi Solomon Maiku, Dept of Mass Communication, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State