The incessant increase in cases of mob action in the nation most often than not are allegedly blamed on dysfunctional, corrupt judiciary systems and law enforcement which has lost its credibility.
A writer once wrote that to appreciate life is to understand death for both are inextricably related. The writer added that only a fool fights to die while the wise fights to live for ‘’he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.’’
But this was not the case for Shuibu Hamza (not real name), a trader who on a loan recovery drive from his clients was lynched by a mob at the instance of one of his clients who raised a false alarm.
On getting to the debtor’s shop, identified as Musa Abdullahi instead of repaying his loan. Irrationally decided to call for mob action against Hamza by raising a false alarm. He simply called for help from his co-traders in the market who did not hesitate to lynch him, with claims that Hamza was a thief and want to rob him.
Unfortunately, passersby and the traders in the market descended on him, luckily for Hamza when he was just about to be burnt by the mob was identified by someone in the crowd who called for a ceasefire.
However, efforts were made immediately to take Hamza to the hospital where after all efforts by the doctors gave up the ghost, but prior to his death and despite the horrible situation he was able to explain his story very clearly when asked some questions about those who lynched him, he told his family members that Musa who he lent money called for mob action against him.
The sad part is, as gory as most of the scenes are, one will always find several people recording them with their mobile phones. Unfortunately, sometimes, the alleged suspects can turn out to be innocent or even be lynched for a crime that can be resolved at the police station.
Most often than not, it is not uncommon for Nigerians to open their WhatsApp and other social media platforms and be inundated with all manners of graphic pictures and videos from such gory scenes of mob actions. The most offensive videos involve cases of mob actions in which alleged suspected thieves or kidnappers, other criminals, or even innocent Nigerians are set on fire or beaten to death by an angry mob.
Basically, jungle justice or mob justice encompasses a form of public extrajudicial killings in Sub-Saharan Africa. Analysts, however, noted that jungle justice is most notably recorded in Nigeria and Cameroon, where an alleged criminal is humiliated, beaten, or summarily executed by a crowd or vigilante members.
Mob actions during such a dastardly act can vary from a “muddy treatment”, where the perceived perpetrator is made to roll in mud for hours to severe beatings followed by necklacing with tyres beaten and burnt. This form of street justice is been blamed on dysfunctional and corrupt judiciary systems and law enforcement which have lost their credibility.
Reasons for the upsurge in mob action
LEADERSHIP Weekend while speaking to a security expert, Samuel Ogobo called for the enlightenment and education of Nigerians to halt the menace.
Ogobo said recent events seem to suggest that a section of Nigerian society no longer places value on human life.
He said apart from the senseless killings and gang wars across the country, the return of jungle justice is the latest disturbing trend, which should make any reasonable human being ask questions.
According to him, ‘’Lives of many people have been taken on the slightest provocation and it is becoming more alarming by the day. Mob lynching a suspect is like a return to the stone age. The development is a reflection of the loss of confidence in the administration of the justice system and the rule of law. So, jungle justice is inhuman, the rules of the jungle are meant for the jungle. Nigeria is not a jungle and so killing people extra-judicially is unacceptable.
‘’Nigerians need to desist from mob lynching as many innocent souls have been killed on account of this. The basic principle of natural justice is that a person accused of an offence must be given an opportunity to defend himself. It is a constitutional right and one of the fundamental principles of human rights. An accused person has a right to defend himself through legal representation.’’
Speaking further, Ogobo also blamed illiteracy and the economic situation for the rising cases of jungle justice.
‘’There is a need for enlightenment, to educate Nigerians on the danger of jungle justice. There is also anger in the land. Some are merely taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to vent their anger on any accused person. This should stop, proactive measures should be put in place to tackle the scourge,’’ he added.
Everyone is presumed innocent under the law until proven otherwise
A legal practitioner, John Haruna said that ‘’everyone is presumed innocent under the law until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.’’
He said the need to checkmate the advent of this Jungle Justice cannot be overemphasised. Haruna decried that jungle justice is like an undetected virus that is on the increase and has so far, caused some greatly irreparable and irrevocable damage to the society because in most cases, innocent persons are killed and this may or maybe not be discovered until the victims are dead.
He explained that due process should be followed in everything we do, this is where the police are given a place of function by conducting a proper and thorough investigation, and the person upon this investigation is charged to court and then, the prosecution of the said suspect would be by a court of competent jurisdiction where the offender or suspect is given the right to have a counsel defend him.
According to him, ‘’Everyone is presumed innocent under the law until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction by virtue of section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution. Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria: Fundamental rights. “Every person has the right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life.
Some people have argued that jungle justice is a result of the people’s lack of confidence in the judicial system. But whatever the logic or rationale, some people pose in support of jungle justice, the fact remains that it is unlawful and should be condemned.”
He said the Nigerian Constitution from 1960 to the current 1999 Constitution (as amended) had always been provided under the Chapter on Fundamental Human Rights, sections guaranteeing the right to life. For instance, under section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, it provides as follows:
‘’Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence at which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.
‘’A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances, as are permitted by law of such forces as is reasonably necessary: For the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property; In order to effect a lawful arrest to or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or for the purpose of suppressing a riot insurrection or mutiny.’’
Should the justice system be blamed?
A social commentator, Henry Nwankwo, described jungle justice as a barbaric act which is totally off the course in law. He said jungle justice should be condemned by all. He also urged security agents to step up actions to halt the menace.
According to him, ‘’I believe, under the law, it is only the state that can prosecute a criminal. Every offender is to be tried in court to determine his guilt or innocence as the case may be. A mob attack, which mostly leads to extrajudicial killing and denies the suspects the right to fair hearing which is against such persons right.”
However, the reason why jungle justice persists, according to Nwankwo, is because suspected criminals do not get justice when they are handed over to the policemen. They claim that suspects do bribe policemen to have their way and return to society to continue to torment innocent citizens.
He alleged that judges, law enforcement agents, and lawmakers are to be blamed. Don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to justify the act. But some Nigerians have lost faith in them to protect their lives and properties, and that is why there is an increase in mob action.
On ways of preventing human rights abuse and jungle justice he called for: ‘’Respect for and obedience to the law of the land, educating citizens on their rights, imposing sanctions on those who abuse other people’s rights, equality before the law, collectively fighting human right abusers and promote activities of the human rights organizations.’’
Also, a resident of Dei Dei, Abuja suburb, Sani Mohammed, decried that what baffles him is the fact that the faces of the perpetrators are usually caught on camera and people wonder why the security agents are not doing anything to identify such people.
‘’When you watch these videos on social media, the faces of those responsible are very visible in such videos. The videos are there for security agents to work with. I think this is the first attempt to halt jungle justice,’’ he said.
But, the FCT Police Command has reassured the people of the FCT of the command’s unflinching commitment to riding the FCT of criminal elements and bringing crime and criminality to the barest minimum.
He charged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352.
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