The Prevalent of Jungle Justice: A Threat to Our Society
ALABI Qozim Diekola (MCPN)
The recent incidents of jungle justice in different parts of Nigeria have sent shockwaves throughout the nation, leaving us shaken and concerned about the safety and security of our people. The brutal killing of Khadijah, a woman accused of being a kidnapper, based on mere suspicion, is a stark reminder of the dangers of taking the law into our own hands. This heinous act, perpetrated by a mob in Ilorin, highlights the urgent need to sensitize the general public on the effects of jungle justice and the devastating consequences it can have on our society.
The facts of the case are disturbing and raises several questions about the prevalence of jungle justice in our society,
Khadijah was accused of being a kidnapper because she had four ATM cards and an old Unilorin form in her bag. Without any investigation or evidence, a crowd gathered, beat her, and ultimately took her life. The aftermath revealed that the accusations were baseless, and Khadijah was innocent.
A similar of such disturbing incidents occurred in a public car park also in ilorin when a Pastor and his wife mistakenly attempted to unlock a car that did not belong to them. The car in question was of the same color and model as the Pastor’s vehicle, infact, just too similar to be differentiate and was parked in close proximity to his own car in the same parking area.
The owner of the car was watching afar, believing the Pastor and his wife to be part of a car theft syndicate, raised an alarm, while people attempted to apprehend the couple. In few seconds, the mob has gathered, and the situation quickly escalated, with the Pastor and his wife facing the very real possibility of mob justice.
Fortunately, by the mercy of God, the couple had little opportunity to explain their situation and clarified that they had simply mistaken the car for their own. After a thorough explanation, it was discovered that the two cars were indeed similar in appearance and were parked not too far to each other in the same car park.
The incident highlights the dangers of mob justice and the importance of verifying facts before taking action. In this case, the reselience and patience of the parties involved prevented a potentially disastrous outcome for this lucky couple, and the Pastor and his wife were able to escape harm. As a result of many cases of impatient and not giving a suspect the fundamental human right to fair hearing, many innocent people have thereby lost their lives in an unjust manner.
These tragic incidents is a clear example of the dangers of jungle justice and the importance of seeking justice through proper channels.
Hence, Jungle justice is a threat to our society because it denies individuals the right to a fair trial and due process. Mob justice bypasses the nation legal system, allowing individuals to take the law into their own hands and melted out punishment without regard for the truth or evidence. This can lead to innocent lives being lost, as seen in Khadijah’s case, where a woman was killed based on mere suspicion or false accusations.
Furthermore, jungle justice perpetuates a culture of violence, where individuals resort to mob justice, rather than seeking justice through the proper channels.
Moreover, jungle justice undermines trust in the justice system and can lead to further instability in our society. When individuals take the law into their own hands, it erodes the confidence of citizens in the ability of the justice system to protect them and uphold the rule of law. This can create a sense of lawlessness and vigilantism, where individuals feel that they can take matters into their own hands and dispense justice as they deem fit.
To prevent such incidents, it is essential that we take collective action to promote awareness about the dangers of jungle justice and the importance of seeking justice through the proper channels. We must educate the public on the need to rely on the justice system and trust the authorities to handle cases of suspected wrongdoing.
Additionally, we must foster a culture of respect for human life and dignity, and reject mob violence and vigilantism.
In conclusion, as we all agreed that jungle justice is a danger to our society, and it is essential that we take collective action to prevent it. Government agencies like the National Orientation Agency (NOA) etc., should put more efforts in promoting awareness, educating the general public to rely on the nation’s justice system, and fostering a culture of respect for human life, by doing these together, we can create a safer and more just society for all.
Lastly, let us choose life over violence and law over lawlessness, and work towards building a society where justice is served through proper channels, while human life is valued and respected.
ALABI Qozim Diekola (MCPN)
23rd August, 2025
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