WHAT IS JUNGLE JUSTICE?

''Jungle justice or mob justice is a form of public extrajudicial killings in Sub-Saharan Africa, most notably Nigeria and Cameroon, where an alleged criminal is humiliated, beaten or summarily executed by a crowd or vigilantes.'' Treatments can vary from a "muddy treatment", where the perceived perpetrator is made to roll in mud for hours to severe beatings followed by necklacing. This form of street justice occurs where a dysfunctional and corrupt judiciary system and law enforcement have lost all credibility. European principles of justice have likewise become discredited. The way Nigerians take laws into their hands and descend on suspected criminals is becoming worrisome by the day.

According to an eye witness...
It was on Sunday Afternoon, I was on my way home from the market while I was waiting patiently for a cab; I saw a young man between the age of 30-35 years , neatly dressed in white shirt stocked into his black plain trouser with a brown belt and brown shoe to complete his systematic arrangement, and I guess he was also waiting for a cab, a lot of people were at that spot too. Then all of a sudden, a lady shouted, thief, thief, help me catch him, he stole my money, that him, pointing to the man. you steal my money and you want to enter bus and escape, before you know it heavy slap from no where landed on his face. What did I do? He asked politely, you are a thief, the lady replied. Then some hoodlums picked wands of different sizes and started hitting him not minding his appearance. Tears was almost rolling down my eyes considering how dirty those guys hitting him were and how neat and orderly he dressed. The man (Bernard) could not possibly be a thief judging him by appearance and look.
So you are the one that always steal people's properties in this market.someone shouted approaching him with Barton. His white was gradually changing color combination with stains of blood from his flesh and before he could understand what is happening, he was already lying helplessly on that dirty ground, and gradually his shirts was flying out from his trouser and cutting down patch by patch.
He stole my money, thief, give me my money, she was still lamenting. How much did he steal from you madam?? One of the hoodlum asked. My five thousand, this man is a thief. Then they searched him and found five thousand Naira and small change of 100 Naira, 200 Naira and 50 Naira, You see? This man is definitely a thief. The woman shouted. I can explain, please wait let me explain, Bernard pleaded exhaustively, but the beating only increased because five thousand Naira was found in his wallet, they were hitting him so hard that his flesh came out with the sticks as he was gradually going naked. Arrrrh, arrrrh, let me explain, I did not steal her money, Bernard continue to lament as gradually his voice reduced. Arrrrh, arrrh, arrrrh he could hardly say a word when they hit him stone and sticks.

Oh!, look at how handsome and neatly dress like a banker,who will actually suspect him as a theif,that what suit him, said one woman as she watch from a distance. I get fuel, I get tyre, if we leave him, he will steal again. Then Bernard was almost naked now, they condemned his cloth on his body and then he was exhausted, I couldn’t help but watch from one end of the road with heavy tears rolling down my eyes. Then I saw poor people that could not afford 3 meal a day, contributing 300naira per litre fuel and tyre. The tyre was placed on his head and body, they poured the fuel on him and then one matchstick was enough to end his life in pain. Arrrrrrrrrrh!!!, Bernard shouted in great pain as he struggled to get up but was exhausted. Those hoodlums turned away one after another as the heat from the fire on Bernard’s body was getting high.
Bernard was gradually turning into black smoke and people that watched from distance all went sorrowfully away, Bernard died slowly but painfully. The woman watched how Bernard was dying and she heard someone calling "mummy mummy" she turned and then saw her son junior running towards her and on reaching her he said loudly dragging the crowds attention, "mummy daddy say i should I give you this 5000 Naira, that he is the one that take it from your bag. Eyes widened, jaw dropped and someone let out a cry. He is not the one that stole the money but Bernard was just ash by then.
It was 9:00pm that day, Bernard’s wife ( newly married with her 3 months old baby boy) called her elder sister. Hello Ada, did you say Bernard came to shop today? Yes, and I gave him five thousand to give to you, is he not back??? Oh my God, he’s not back. Where has he gone to?? My husband is not like that, he had never returned this late before. Bernard’s wife replied with her baby in her hand. He will be back there, maybe he branched to see a friend.

This is an eye witness account and the lesson I want us to learn from this story. Apart from the fact that this happen now and then in my country Nigeria. The main theme from this story is that Jungle justice is no justice at all; an innocent person was murdered due to coincidental fact without allowing the accused to defend himself and the people who stand and watch this ugly event are guilty of the crime as those carrying out the execution because they simply watch and DO NOTHING.

JUNGLE JUSTICE IS NOT THE BEST OPTION, LET’S STOP JUNGLE JUSTICE TODAY AND SAVE LIFE, BOTH THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY.

I SAY NO TO JUNGLE JUSTICE!

This practice is barbaric and disregarding of the rule of law and taking matters into ones hand. It is characterised by stripping the accused of his/her fundamental human right of fair hearing and oppurtunity to defend themselselves.Two wrong can never make a right.
“This ugly practice has advanced to the point where even our urban communities have become theatres for perpetrating this very barbaric conduct. In recent times, we have seen cases of people who have been lynched and set ablaze on mere suspicion of being thieves, kidnappers and the likes.”The rate at which the mob has been dispensing “instant and brutal justice” on suspected cultists and kidnappers and the likes in Nigeria is alarming.

LET'S FIGHT THIS MENACE

There is a pertinent question about what is responsible for this ugly development which i find difficult to provide an answer to: is it failure of law enforcement or basically an expression of the idea that state judiciary institution are dysfunctional and lack of trust or confidence or signs of a more dangerous national ailment? Or is it that human life is no longer valuable in this country?The practice where alleged criminals were severely beaten, humiliated and in most cases murdered without recourse to judicial procedure.

Advocating for a zero jungle justice,does not in any way suggest that we are taking side with them but for the respect and value we have for human life and the rule of law. The law stipulated that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty in a competent court of law.The battle to put an end to this 'barbaric menace' in our society is a general one,let endevour to suppress our anger and allow law enforcement agencies take appropriate actions,let discourage and enlighten those who believe in it and see it as an instant justice.let give the accused people an opportunity to be duly tried before a competent court of law.
STOP JUNGLE JUSTICE TODAY!
JUNGLE JUSTICE IS NO JUSTICE #