Jungle Justice And The Rule Of Law Crisis In Nigeria

Jungle justice, also known as mob justice or extrajudicial killing, remains a deeply troubling and entrenched phenomenon in Nigeria. Despite repeated condemnations from human rights groups, this disturbing trend persists due to deep-seated issues of religious intolerance and systemic failures in Nigeria’s justice system.

The sheer cruelty of the act of mob lynching has sparked debates about its barbarity and the desperation that drives people to take the law into their own hands. It is also a symptom of a bigger problem; many Nigerians are traumatised people and hurting people hurt others. Suspected criminals, mostly poor and hapless people are the low hanging fruit for blood thirty mobs to unleash their anger upon.

Many jungle justice victims are later proven to be innocent. Tragically, they have no opportunity to defend themselves once the mob has made its decision. Jungle justice fuels a cycle of violence. Once communities accept mob rule as a legitimate form of justice, it becomes increasingly difficult to control, leading to more indiscriminate killings.

Without urgent attention, the crisis of jungle justice will persist. Government, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary must seek to understand the underlying causes and propose lasting solutions to citizens calls for justice. Mob justice can happen to anyone—male or female, young or old—and no one is safe from this disturbing tendency among Nigerians to act as both perpetrators and spectators of suffering.

RELATED

Edo: How Not To Avoid Another Mob Killings

19 hours ago

When Are You Going To Get A Proper Job?

2 days ago

Chronicles of Jungle Justice

On March 27, 2024, a mob in Uromi, Edo State lynched and burnt 16 hunters. Reports indicate that the victims were in the area for a legitimate hunting expedition but were mistaken for bandits and kidnappers. Rather than verifying their identity or handing them over to the authorities, an enraged mob took justice into their own hands, killing them in cold blood—highlighting a recurring pattern where suspicion, prejudice, and communal tensions fuel deadly vigilante actions.

In May 2022, Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was gruesomely murdered and burnt to death by a mob for alleged blasphemy by fellow students after being accused of making statements deemed offensive to Islam on a WhatsApp group. The chilling nature of her killing and the support it received from some segments of the population exposed the dangerous intersection of religious extremism and mob justice.

On October 5, 2012, Nigeria witnessed the horrific lynching of four young University of Port Harcourt students—Lloyd, Ugonna, Tekena, and Chidiaka—in Aluu, a community near Port Harcourt, Rivers State. They were falsely accused of theft and without any credible evidence or due process, a bloodthirsty mob beat them to death and burned their bodies.

In 2016 in Badagry, Lagos State, a seven-year-old boy was falsely accused of stealing garri—a Nigeria staple food—lynched and burnt alive by an angry crowd. In 2013 in Ejigbo, three women were tortured and violated with pepper over allegations of theft, one of the women later died. In 2022, in Zamfara, a man accused of blasphemy was stoned to death, in Anambra State, traders set suspected thieves ablaze without trial, and in 2016, Kubwa, Abuja, the nation’s capital, Eunice Olawale was beheaded by suspected religious extremists while on her usual morning preaching.

The Root Causes of Jungle Justice

Jungle justice thrives in Nigeria due to several factors. First is the lack of trust in the law enforcement process which discourages people from reporting crimes to the police. The perception that criminals often evade punishment through bribery and corruption and the inability of law enforcement agencies to prevent or respond swiftly to mob violence emboldens perpetrators. In many cases, police officers are either absent, overwhelmed or too late, allowing mobs to carry out their actions without fear of repercussions.

The lingering problem of a weak judicial system with prolonged delays in justice means that even when suspects are arrested, they can languish in detention for years without trial. This lack of timely justice fosters the perception that mob action is the only swift way to punish wrongdoers.

Also, insecurity and rising crime rates characterized by banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes, has fuelled a culture of fear and vengeance. Many communities, frustrated by the government’s inability to protect them, resort to jungle justice as a form of self-help.

One of the most dangerous root causes of jungle justice stem from religious intolerance and ethnic bias. As seen in the cases of Deborah Samuel, Eunice Olawale and the Zamfara killings, accusations of blasphemy, ethnic and religious biases often play a dangerous role. Mobs sometimes act out of prejudice, rather than facts, leading to tragic consequences.

Another growing trend is misinformation. In an age where rumours spread rapidly online, false accusations can quickly escalate into violent actions. Many jungle justice incidents are sparked by unverified social media posts that incite public anger.

Finally, widespread poverty, youth unemployment, illiteracy and untreated trauma contribute significantly to mob violence. In many cases, those who partake in jungle justice do so out of ignorance, failing to understand the importance of due process and a lifetime of hurt and trauma that remain untreated. Without proper education on human rights and legal procedures, communities become breeding grounds for lawlessness.

Consequences and The Way Forward for Ending Jungle Justice

Jungle justice has dire consequences for society including the loss of innocent lives, violation of human rights, erosion of the rule of law and increased violence and anarchy. As demonstrated in numerous cases, innocent people are often victims of mistaken identity or false accusations.

Extrajudicial killings violate fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life and fair trial. When mobs dispense justice, it undermines the authority of legal institutions and weakens the state’s ability to maintain law and order triggering cycles of revenge, leading to further violence and instability in communities.

To combat jungle justice, the government must strengthen the law enforcement and justice system by ensuring swift and transparent trials for accused persons, reducing the public’s inclination to take the law into their own hands. The Police must be trained and equipped to respond promptly to cases of mob action, preventing unlawful killings before they occur. Stricter laws criminalizing mob violence, with severe penalties for perpetrators must be passed and enforced.

Government, civil society/youth organizations, religious/traditional leaders and media outlets should lead advocacy and education on the dangers of jungle justice and promote legal avenues for addressing grievances. All should be involved in conflict resolution, crime prevention efforts and curbing the spread of false information, disinformation and misinformation that incites mob violence.

The problem of jungle justice is not new in Nigeria. Over the years, numerous cases have highlighted how easily a person can be accused, condemned, and executed by a frenzied mob without any form of legal proceedings. A society that allows mob justice to flourish undermines its legal institutions, weakening the rule of law and promoting chaos.

Unless urgent steps are taken to restore trust and confidence in the judicial system, strengthen law enforcement, and educate the public, mob violence will continue to claim innocent lives. A society governed by fear and lawlessness cannot thrive—ending jungle justice is not just a legal necessity but a moral imperative to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and human rights in Nigeria.