MIXED REACTIONS OVER JUNGLE JUSTICE
DENEN DANIEL
Extra–judicial killing of alleged culprits also called jungle justice is seen by many as the cruelest process of denying one’s rights to life and fair hearing. A public affairs commentator Engr. Nat Apir, spoke on the need for speedy elimination of this inhumane way of retribution of justice as melted on individuals in the streets across cities in Nigeria, who are in most cases innocent of the charges levelled against them. In his words “mob justice or jungle justice is one of the ugliest things which will be done in a society that prides itself of practicing democracy. Barbaric and primitive process of retribution of justice are long age from our present age and a stronger awareness should be created to those who view mob activities as surest access to justice, to desert from their actions.”
Public Affairs Analyst, Elvis Chukwu lamented the height of lawlessness in the country. According to him, when the laws that differentiate human beings from animals are ignored, anarchy sets in and animals and human beings could be hardly differentiated in their doings. He further stressed that mental impoverishment has twisted the minds of the citizens such that a thief is celebrated and the innocent are brutally victimized. “when they see a real thief, like a politician who has stolen million or billions of naira from the public, they prostrate before them. He said further that a failed trust in the sincerity of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to persecute justice on behalf of victims leave the public with the option of cutting corners towards justice as is seen daily in our streets.
A commuter bus Driver in Makurdi who preferred to be quoted anonymously told the Transmitter that he believe in instant punishment because justice is usually denied in Nigeria. He added that most of the perpetrators of these crimes operate in syndicate and have security agencies as corporate partners who come to their aid as soon as they are apprehended. “when you catch a thief red-handed, deal with him or her immediately, because we have learnt from experience. There are some known armed robbers in many areas in Makurdi but when they are caught and taken to the police justice is denied.”
Mzuaga Theophilus of Adikpo, Kwande did not fail to indict the judiciary when he fed questions from newsmen. The judiciary is the greatest fear in this country. There have been cases where after lingering for years or decades, the complainant dies and the case is forgotten. How many Nigerians can a lawyer defend when the need arises? Now you see why people are quick to mob action than approaching relevant authorities.”
A legal practitioner and human rights activist, Barr. Orshi Ayoh said mob justice is barbaric and a crime against humanity and the society. He added that perpetrators of jungle justice actually commit greater crimes than the suspect themselves and those that engage in taking the law into their hands are expressing anger and frustration at the system.” It is barbarism and crime under Nigerian law. When the so called jungle justice leads to somebody being lynched those who perpetrate the crime have done worse than whatever the person they have killed is accused of. It is a simple logic, even if the accused commits murder, those who killed him also commit the same offence.”
Orshi Ayoh mocked the phrase “jungle justice” as it depicts the status of a man in the stone age. According to Nigeria’s constitution section 36(5), which is the supreme law of the land, every person who is charged with the criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty stressing that the authority with such powers to pronounce an individual guilty is only vested in a court of competent jurisdiction.” He concluded that, “jungle justice” is very unfair to anyone and an infringement on the fundamental rights of an individual.”
In 2012, 4 UNIPORT undergraduates, Ugbonna Obuzor, Toku Loyd, Chiadika Biringa and Tekena Elkanah, were lynched by a mob in Aluu, a town in Rivers state. The death of these four intensified public outcry against mob justice. Many are of the opinion that re-orientation of the citizenry be implemented towards changing the perspective of members of the public against self-admiration of justice especially as the country thrive to meet democratic standards as practice in other nations of the world.
