The gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel, a 22-year-old student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State, by her colleagues shocked Nigerians. On May 12, a sound engineer, David Umoh, became another victim of jungle justice when commercial motorcyclists lynched him in Lekki, Lagos State, following an argument over N100 balance.
Until recently, jungle justice has remained an overlooked issue in Nigeria. We cannot forget the Aluu 4 incident in 2012, where four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) were lynched and set ablaze by residents of the Aluu community in Rivers State. The boys were accused of being armed robbers and cultists.
There have been numerous other cases since then. But somehow, after the initial backlash and condemnation, the issues die naturally until a recurrence.
Table of Content hide 1 What is jungle justice? 2 Jungle justice in Nigeria 3 History of jungle justice in Nigeria 4 Causes of jungle justice in Nigeria 4.1 Failed judicial system 4.2 Corruption 4.3 Religion 4.4 Ethnicity 5 Cases of jungle justice in Nigeria 5.1 Aluu Four 5.2 Deborah Samuel 5.3 David Umoh 5.4 Dei-Dei market 5.5 Katangan incident 6 Law against jungle justice in Nigeria 7 ConclusionWhat is jungle justice?
Jungle Justice is a public extrajudicial killing where an alleged criminal is humiliated, beaten, and killed by a mob. It is a common occurrence in some Sub-Sahara African countries like Nigeria and Cameroon. Jungle justice ranges from forcing the victim to roll in the mud for hours to lynching by severe beating and setting on fire with intent to kill. Anyone can be a victim, and it can start with being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jungle justice usually occurs in countries where the judicial system has failed.
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Jungle justice in Nigeria
Jungle justice is becoming an epidemic in Nigeria. With the lynching of Deborah Samuel and David Imoh still fresh in our minds, we are left to wonder if there is any hope left. The youths are the major victims and culprits in extrajudicial killings. Images of the mob of young people excited and jubilant in the process of killing another human being in public leave one wondering if there is any humanity left in them.
The frequent occurrence of jungle justice in Nigeria has shown that life has no value anymore. The situation is so bad that anything can trigger it. A mere accusation of blasphemy and a shout of ole! ole! can brutally end anyone’s life in a few minutes.
Jungle justice in Nigeria does not come without consequences, and it has taken Nigeria several centuries backward. The rest of the world now sees Nigerians as corrupt, uncultured, and primitive. With a population of over 250 million people, Nigeria’s diversity has proven over time to be a burden rather than an asset to the country.
History of jungle justice in Nigeria
Jungle justice in Nigeria has no particular history as it has been happening for decades. For record purposes, however, it can be traced to the Bakassi Boys, a group established in 1999 by various associations of Igbo people of the South-East, Nigeria. Gilbert Okoye was the first leader of the association.
Armed robbers and gangsters were terrorizing the region’s people, especially Aba, Abia State, in the 90s. So the Bakassi Boys were introduced by the then governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, to stop the menace. Members of the association were armed with machetes, guns, and charms, which they wore around their bodies. It was said that the group lynched suspected petty thieves, armed robbers, ritual killers, murderers, corrupt persons, and anyone they considered evil.
The Bakassi Boys enjoyed support from Igbo people because crimes greatly reduced after they began to operate. Other states in the region began to employ their services to help reduce crime. Odeshi became a popular term among the Igbo people, which means “It does not leak” or “it would not leak.” The term actually means gunshot bullets wouldn’t pierce the skin of the Bakassi Boys as they have already been fortified against them.
The Bakassi Boys still exist today, but they have been renamed Anambra Vigilante Services, and their activities have reduced significantly.
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Causes of jungle justice in Nigeria
The prevalence of jungle justice in Nigeria means the life and freedom of the people are almost worthless. Here are some causes:
Failed judicial system
They say the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. But that is not the case in Nigeria. Everyone knows that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than a poor man to get justice through the judiciary in Nigeria. As a result, citizens now take laws into their own hands, which often results in the brutal killings of other citizens.
Corruption
“Corruption is the cankerworm of the society” is one of the most abused sentences in history but very accurate in Nigeria. The people have lost faith in the government due to corrupt practices by the leaders. There is hunger, frustration, and discontent among citizens. Youths, who are the major culprits and victims of jungle justice in Nigeria, are unemployed and unproductive. The saying, “a hungry man is an angry man,” appropriately describes the Nigerian situation right now. As a result, any little thing can trigger the citizens’ anger which of course, leads to jungle justice. The brutal killing of Umoh underscores the anger in the citizens.
Religion
Religion is one of the oldest causes of jungle justice in Nigeria. Nigeria is a country filled with religious zealots who are ready to kill to protect their faith. There is a very thin line between love and hate in religious practices in Nigeria. Deborah’s case is a result of religion. Your bosom friend can smile with you in one minute and invite friends to set you ablaze the next minute for perceived blasphemy against his or her religion.
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Ethnicity
Like religion, ethnicity is one of Nigeria’s oldest causes of jungle justice. There are three major ethnic groups in Nigeria – Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba – and over 200 minor ethnic groups with diverse cultures and traditions. Despite the introduction of institutions like the National Orientation Agency, NYSC, and Federal Character Commission, ethnicity remains a huge problem. So when a case of jungle justice happens, some Nigerians will applaud and condone it because of their ethnic sentiments.
Cases of jungle justice in Nigeria
Cases of jungle justice in Nigeria abound. However, here are more recent cases of jungle justice in Nigeria:
Aluu Four
The Aluu four incident remains a case study of jungle justice in Nigeria even though it happened in 2012. Four students of UNIPORT, Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Chiadika Biringa, and Tekena Elkanah, were brutally lynched in necklace fashion. The boys were lynched by a mob of angry Aluu residents in a case of settling debt and misunderstanding that turned sour.
The video of the mob action was filmed and uploaded on the internet through a mobile phone which sparked an uproar and condemnation by Nigerians and the world. Several people were arrested and charged at Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt. A Police Sergeant, Mr. Lucky Orji; David Chinasa Ogbada, and Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon) were sentenced to death in 2017 following their active involvement, while four suspects were discharged and acquitted.
Deborah Samuel
Deborah Samuel was a Shehu Shagari College of Education student in Sokoto State. She was killed with stones and planks on Thursday, May 12, by her fellow students and thereafter set ablaze. Deborah was said to have commented on her school’s WhatsApp platform, which her Muslim colleagues considered blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Her charred remains were laid to rest in her hometown, Tungan Magajiya, in the Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State on May 14. No one has been charged for her death at the time of this write-up.
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David Umoh
David Imoh, a sound engineer, was lynched and burnt to death by a mob of commercial motorcyclists following an argument over N100 balance on May 12, 2022. The incident happened at Lekki, Lagos State. There’s no report of any arrests, but the Lagos State Government, after the incident, banned commercial motorcycles in some local government areas from June 1.
Umoh will be buried on Friday, June 3, in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Dei-Dei market
At least eight persons were killed during a clash between traders and commercial motorcyclists in the Dei-Dei market area of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to reports, a trailer killed the passenger of a commercial motorcycle due to reckless driving. The traders seized the motorcycle and set it ablaze. As a result, a mob of other motorcyclists killed and maimed some people; burnt down houses and stores of many traders.
Katangan incident
On May 13, irate youths went on a rampage in the Katangan area of Warji Local Government Area of Bauchi State. A video circulated on social media where a Christian girl in the town allegedly engaged in the blasphemy of Islam. A pastor was injured, and many houses were burnt.
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Law against jungle justice in Nigeria
Jungle justice is an illegal and unconstitutional form of justice in Nigeria. It breaches many provisions of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), Administration of Criminal and Justice Act (2015), Criminal Procedure Act (2004), and some other statutory provisions.
Section 33(1) of the Nigeria 1999 constitution (as amended) states thus:
“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 of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
Similarly, Section 8 (1 and 3) of the Administration of Criminals and Justice Act (2015) says there’s no room for mob justice which means jungle justice is prohibited. It states thus:
“A suspect shall:
(a) be accorded humane treatment, having regard to his right to dignity of his person; also,
(b) not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”.
Section 8(3):
“A suspect shall be brought before the court or otherwise released conditionally or unconditionally.”
Conclusion
Nigerians are angry. There is poverty in the land. People are looking for various ways to unleash their anger on others. Recent cases have shown that people are losing their sensitivity to the sacredness of human life.
This doesn’t mean jungle justice should be allowed to continue. Recent happenings should be a wake-up call for the Nigerian government, especially the judiciary, to make reforms and redeem their image in the eyes of the people. Individuals, agencies, and the media should educate the masses about the dangers of engaging in jungle justice and the consequences.
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