News

How Frustration, Delayed Justice Fuel Jungle Justice, Nigerians Speak

Published

4 years ago

July 30, 2022

Nigerians are no doubt passing through what could be considered the toughest phase in the history of the country since the return to democracy in 1999.

Apart from issues of insecurity, hunger is biting harder, job losses are on the increase, frustration is at the highest ebb.

No doubt the citizens utilize every available opportunity to ventilate their anger. Sadly though, the victims of such situations- jungle justice are the same commoners.

DAILY POST reports that several cases of jungle justice have been recorded in the country since January.

Wikipedia defines jungle justice or mob justice or lynching as a form of public extrajudicial killings, where an alleged criminal is publicly humiliated, beaten and summarily executed by vigilantes or an angry mob.

It stated that, “Treatments can vary from a “muddy treatment”, where the alleged criminal is forced to roll in mud for hours, to severe beatings followed by execution by necklacing”.

One of the reported cases of recent jungle justice in the country was a case of two people suspected to be motorcycle snatchers in Ibadan. The duo were burnt at General Gas under bridge in Ibadan on Wednesday, 20 July, 2022.

DAILY POST also reports that two suspected motorcycle snatchers were also set on fire last month in the same town.

It was also reported on June 8 this year that two suspected armed robbers were killed in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

Samuel Deborah, who was until her death a student of a College of Education in Sokoto State, was killed in a controversial manner by some suspects who are yet to be prosecuted.

A suspected thief was in March last year set ablaze in Delta State.

In Enugu State, two persons, including a native doctor, were also stoned to death a few weeks back for allegedly using a minor for ritual.

DAILY POST sought the opinion of several stakeholders and they expressed divergent views on the causes and implications of the trend.

Anarchy Reigns In The Absence Of Rule Of Law – Social Workers

National President of Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) Alhaji Mashood Mustapha in his explanation said that jungle justice is increasing in the country as a result of a weak judicial system.

He posited that anarchy reigns in the absence of rule of law.

Mustapha called on the government and other stakeholders to address this issue with the aim of curtailing or bringing this primitive behavior to an end.

He said, “Extrajudicial killings through mob action are on the increase as a result of a weak judicial system. In the absence of rule of law, anarchy reigns, thereby putting humanity in danger.

“The Nigeria Association of Social Workers frowns at this shameful lawlessness and would like to appeal to the law enforcement agents to take appropriate actions in stemming out this mess that is spreading like bush fire across the country. Many innocent people have lost their lives and we are appealing to our people not to be taking laws into their hands because life is sacrosanct.

“The rule of law should prevail above the rule of man. The Nigeria Association of Social Workers condemn the killing of people outside the legal framework, as this is not only barbaric but inhuman. These mob killings can lead to total breakdown of law and order if not curtailed on time. Our association is hereby calling on the government or any appropriate body to address this issue with the aim of curtailing or bringing this primitive behavior to an end. We also call on the Human Rights Organizations to rise up to this challenge”.

Jungle Justice Thrives When People Lose Confidence In The System – Legal Practitioner

A legal practitioner, Barrister Ahmed Junaid Sanusi in an interview with DAILY POST, said that jungle justice thrives when people have lost confidence in the justice system.

He told DAILY POST that the only solution is to ensure that justice is done in all cases.

Junaid added that proper reporting of cases where justice is done will also go a long way in sanitizing the system.

He concluded by saying that those who participated in jungle justice should be made to face the music.

Junaid said, “Well, jungle justice thrives where people fail to believe in the justice system. The solution is to ensure that justice is done in all cases and not just done but seen to have been done too. Proper reporting of cases will also go a long way. There should be proper enlightenment to let the people know that justice is not a one way traffic.

“Justice is three-way traffic. Justice to the state, to the victim and to the defendant who has been accused of having committed an offence.

“Lastly, persons who have participated in jungle justice should always be made to face the music of their indiscretions. This is without prejudice to what might have led them to engage in jungle justice. There is no justification whatsoever for barbarism and lawlessness”.

Curb Jungle Justice Before It Consumes The Innocents – Diction Coach Tells Stakeholders

A diction coach, Mr. Richard Israel in his contribution, expressed worry that jungle justice was consuming innocent citizens.

“As I said, the current situation in the country might be one of the reasons, and the lack of trust in the Nigeria Police is contextual to the prevalent event. Nevertheless, we would not plunge the country into abysmal misdemeanors because the government has failed to serve as an ointment of succour.

“However, our government has a prominent role in mitigating the intensity. The government, maybe at the level of state government, should sensitize the public about the consequence of meting out jungle justice to a presumed. It is a menace we need to curb before it consumes the innocent,” he said.

Nigerian Government Is To Be Blamed For The Ugly Development – Labour Leader

A labour leader and public affairs analyst, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, said that the Nigerian government is to be blamed for the ugly development.

Emelieze, who is the national coordinator of All Workers Convergence (AWC), explained that the people have lost confidence in the judiciary and the police.

He added that jungle justice is more prevalent in Nigeria due to the failure of the present government to fulfil its campaign promises.

Emelieze said, “Our country Nigeria has been turned into a barbaric jungle, borne from the age-long prevalence of bad governance and total abandonment of the citizenry. The effect of all these is the frustration, anger and tension in the land.

“Everywhere is charged up and at the instance of any violence the people eventually react with greater violence. It shows a society that has lost confidence in governance and the judicial system. The challenge of jungle justice is more in Nigeria due to the failure of this present government to fulfil her campaign promises and things are getting worse by the day. Unfortunately, those who perpetuate this act often go free and this motivates more of such cruel acts.

“The Nigerian government is to be blamed for this degeneration. Our people no longer believe in the system. The judiciary and the police are not trusted for the administration of justice and so the people have to resort to self-help borne from the frustration of a failed system. The irony of it all is that the perpetrators of jungle justice have committed offence as those mobbed.”

Jungle Justice Thrives In The Absence Of Godliness – Islamic Cleric

An Islamic cleric, Shaikh Salahuddeen Busairi in his assertion maintained that the solution to the menace is for everyone to return to Godliness.

Busairi said, “The cause is absence of Godliness, while the solution is for all to return to Godliness. From Islamic perspective it is, ‘Justice delayed, justice obtained.’

“People should be reoriented to be patient enough with the Police investigation and Court verdict before punishment. Qur’an 49:06 says it all. Allah Spoke The Truth”.

Jungle Justice Is A Sin Of Murder – Christian Cleric

Reverend Jacob Kayode Taiwo of Nazareth Baptist Church, Ilupeju, Bodija Oja, Ibadan, in his reaction, said that jungle justice is a sin of murder.

The cleric explained that the legal system should be strengthened so as to curb jungle justice.

Taiwo warned Christians against jungle justice, adding that Jesus opposed jungle justice when the Scribes and Pharisees were about to commit jungle justice on the woman caught in adultery.

“From the Biblical perspective, jungle justice is a sin of murder. It is the Old Testament way of life. No one has the right to take away someone’s life, no matter what. The Bible makes it clear that whoever is innocent of adultery, but guilty of murder is a law breaker. As a Christian, you are not expected to exhibit jungle justice when a criminal is caught, if you can’t convert him/ her, instead of committing jungle justice, hand him or her over to the police.

“The legal system should be strengthened. Criminal cases should be dealt with to the end. There should be a law passed against jungle justice. Government should sensitize the public.

“The major cause of jungle justice in my opinion are: Failure of security agents to secure the citizens. So, the citizens take to securing themselves. Loss of trust in security agents/corruption of the security agents, especially police. There have been cases of criminals arrested and released almost immediately they are brought to station, thereby putting lives of those who earlier captured them in danger.

“Injustice is another reason for jungle justice. Jesus opposed jungle justice when the Scribes and Pharisees were about to commit jungle justice on the woman caught in adultery. Jesus Christ rebuked them instantly. The Scribes and Pharisees insisted to stone her, but Jesus looked up and said to them, ‘he who is without sin among you, let him throw the stone at her’, and they left one after the other when they heard Jesus’s word. They were convicted by their conscience. John 8:3-9; Mathew 5:21-22”.

Jungle Justice May Lead To Total Breakdown Of Law And Order – Traditionalists

Traditional religion adherents in their own reaction, warned that incessant jungle justice may lead to a total breakdown of law and order.

Chairman, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWASO), Oyo State Branch, Surveyor Dasola Adefabi advised that there is a need to go back to traditional ways of security system.

He said, “The menace of jungle justice in our society may lead to total breakdown of law and order in Nigeria if proper care is not taken by relevant authorities.

“The cumbersome investigation method of our security agencies contributes to this. Secondly, the delay in justice in our court of law also makes the citizenry not to have confidence in our nation’s judicial system. Non-quick response of security agents to emergency calls and non-availability of technology to curb breakdown of law and order. We should go back to our traditional ways of security to do investigations”.

Jungle Justice Is Criminal, Has No Human Face – Police

The Nigeria Police has said that jungle justice is criminal.

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this disclosure during a telephone conversation with DAILY POST.

Adejobi when asked the position of the police, insisted that there is no law that permits jungle justice.

“As you all know, anything jungle justice is out of the law. Jungle justice is negative, it is criminal. There is no law that permits it.

“Even our tradition does not allow it. There is no single end result of jungle justice that is not a crime.

“There are some cases of jungle justice that are in the court and those that are not in court, the police are still investigating them. But, by and large, jungle justice is condemnable, it is criminal and has no human face”.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

11 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”