By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE

Jungle Justice: When Suspicion Replaces the Law

IN Nigeria, a single cry of “thief” can turn a crowd into a mob within minutes.

The accused may have little time to explain. Before the police arrive, fists, sticks and other weapons may have already replaced questions and investigation.

Sometimes, the violence ends in death.

In extreme cases, suspects face lynching or burning based solely on allegations. The growing pattern has made jungle justice a serious security, human rights and rule-of-law concern.

The practice thrives partly because many Nigerians have lost confidence in the institutions responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime. Slow trials, poor police response, misinformation and frustration over insecurity have created conditions in which some citizens feel justified in taking the law into their own hands.

Yet the law makes a fundamental distinction between suspicion and guilt.

An allegation does not establish criminal responsibility. A suspect remains presumed innocent until a competent court determines otherwise. The Constitution also guarantees the rights to life, dignity and fair hearing.

A Pattern That Cuts Across Communities

The scale of the problem remains difficult to establish because many incidents go unreported. However, Amnesty International recorded at least 555 people killed by mobs in Nigeria between January 2012 and August 2023.

That translates to an average of roughly 50 to 55 deaths annually from recorded incidents.

Recent cases show how quickly suspicion can become fatal.

On July 1, two travellers riding a motorcycle were reportedly killed in Gidan Kalu Village, Kaduna State, after bystanders allegedly mistook them for kidnappers.

Later that month, a 25-year-old University of Jos graduate reportedly died after a mob accused him of stealing an iPhone in Jos.

In Ibadan, a man was allegedly beaten to death after an accusation that he attempted to rob a Point-of-Sale operator.

Another 21-year-old man reportedly died after a mob accused him of stealing chickens and eggs from a poultry farm in Uyo.

Delta, Kano, Makurdi and Niger also recorded reported cases involving allegations ranging from theft to adultery, debt and attempted motorcycle theft.

The allegations differed, but the pattern remained similar: suspicion came first, violence followed and due process disappeared.

Why Crowds Turn Violent

Security experts say jungle justice rarely begins with certainty. It often begins with an accusation.

Olaniyi Daniel, a security expert and owner of Premier Guard Security Ltd., said an unverified claim could quickly attract people who knew nothing about the alleged offence.

Once emotions take control, he explained, the crowd can abandon reason and act collectively against the accused.

Social media has added another dangerous dimension.

Unverified videos, messages and claims can spread rapidly, creating anger before authorities establish the facts. By the time the truth emerges, an innocent person may already have suffered irreversible harm.

The consequences can also extend beyond the immediate victim. Relatives may seek retaliation, creating another cycle of violence.

Police Response & the Legal Consequences

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has warned Nigerians that mob justice is not a legitimate form of crime control.

He described jungle justice as murder rather than justice and directed police commissioners nationwide to treat mob-action cases as homicide.

According to Disu, Sections 33, 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution protect life, dignity and fair hearing.

He also cited criminal-law provisions under which unlawful killing can attract prosecution for murder or manslaughter, depending on the circumstances.

Importantly, liability can extend beyond the person who delivers the fatal blow.

People who organise, encourage, incite or support a mob attack may also face criminal consequences. Disu further warned that activities such as mobilising crowds, circulating attack videos or obstructing security personnel from rescuing suspects could potentially expose participants to conspiracy-related charges.

He also ordered police commanders to use forensic, intelligence and video evidence when investigating mob attacks.

The warning carries a second message: security personnel cannot simply stand aside.

Disu said officers who deliberately fail to intervene and protect suspects during mob attacks could face disciplinary action.

Rebuilding Trust Before Violence Becomes Normal

Security expert Christopher Oji described jungle justice as both unlawful and morally unacceptable.

He argued that public education must accompany stronger policing. The National Orientation Agency, police, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media all have roles to play.

A lawyer, Kemi Ojo, similarly linked the problem to poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, religious sentiments and declining confidence in the police and judiciary.

However, she stressed that institutional failure cannot justify killing a suspect.

The same position came from Pastor Elijah James of the Assemblies of God Church in Lagos. He argued that religious and community institutions should reinforce respect for human life and lawful dispute resolution.

The central challenge therefore goes beyond stopping individual mobs.

Nigeria must address the conditions that make people believe the law cannot deliver justice.

That requires faster investigations, better police response, more effective community policing and quicker court processes.

It also requires citizens to resist the temptation to treat rumours as evidence.

A society that allows accusations to become death sentences weakens everyone’s security. Today, the crowd may target an alleged thief. Tomorrow, mistaken identity, misinformation or a personal dispute could put anyone in the same position.

Jungle justice therefore presents Nigeria with a difficult choice: strengthen the institutions that deliver justice or allow mob violence to become an alternative justice system.

The latter carries a dangerous cost.

When the mob becomes judge, there is no guarantee that the innocent will survive the verdict.