Name something you have seen with your own eyes that you could live without having seen. Explain what it is, how or why you saw it and why you'd prefer to erase it from your mind and memory. How has it effected you.
This happen 5 years ago in a popular big market in lagos, I went to the market to get the things I had listed down over the weeks. As soon as I got down from the bus, I saw a group of angry people mostly boys gathered around something.
Out of curiosity I went to take a closer look to see what was happening. I squeeze my way almost to the front and lol and behold I saw them beating a man whom I recognized very much into stupor.
I heard them saying he had been stealing from them for awhile now and that day someone happen to catch him red handed.
That didn't stop there, after the beating he could barely move his leg or even open one of his eyes.
The proceeded to burning him alive. they placed a car tire on him, They poured fuel on him as if they wanted to bath him and right there he was set ablazed.
I was so shocked I couldn't move, tears started rolling down my eyes. I asked me self "did I just witness a JUNGLE JUSTICE on someone I know"?
A Jungle justice or mob justice is a form of public extrajudicial killings in Some places where an alleged criminal is publicly humiliated, beaten and summarily executed by vigilantes or an angry mob.
People were screaming at me to leave that place where he was burning but I couldn't hear because I was so shocked that I forgot what my name is at that moment. A man came and pulled me from that side, he started asking me some questions which I wasn't able to answer.
I watched the man burn for hours into ashes without doing any thing. The police later came but as usual they came late and chased everyone from that area and those that were truly involved in the burning of the man ran as fast as they could.
The police only arrested a few people, They packed the remains of him and left to the station.
I sat in a place for two hours without saying anything, I weeped bitterly. I helped my self home and I couldn't stop thinking about what I saw some few hours ago.
The man in question is just a man that stays In the same street as I, he would go out very early and come back in the night. No one knew what he does, every one just assumed he worked in a big company miles away.
Soon the news spread across the street and every one heard about it and also spoke about it. I didn't want anyone to know I was there when it all happen. After two weeks I decided to tell my mum and she was surprised to hear it from me. She asked if I was fine, in other for her not to be worried about me I told her I was good.
I suffered for awhole year because I couldn't stop thinking about everything. I couldn't sleep either, I would see the whole scenero playing in my dreams. Whenever I come across a fire I get scared. I never saw fire the same way again.
I regretted not doing enough, I guess I would have begged the angry men to take him to the police station even after beating him but I was scared they would get me involve and maybe also punished me for something I knew nothing of.
I wished I never saw any of it, even though it been 5 years I still remember it like it happen yesterday. I really wished I could erase it permanently from my head.
People have realized that jungle justice isn't the answer to dealing with thieves, now they beat up the criminals and hand him over to the police.
Thank you guys for reading 💕 💕 💕