The Senate has condemned the rising cases of jungle justice and lynching in Nigeria and asked the police and judiciary to bring an end to the trend.
In a motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the upper legislative house expressed concern about the rising cases of jungle justice by mobs which have arrogated to themselves the power to condemn others to death and execute judgement in different parts of Nigeria without recourse to law courts.
Drawing the attention of his colleagues to the worrisome trend, he said: “We are still awaiting the confirmation of the Nigerian police as regards the incidence of that mob action in Lagos about that seven year old boy who was allegedly accused of stealing Garri (a popular food made from cassava tubers).
“We should have that at the back of our minds but we should look at the content of this motion. Horrified that these rising barbaric acts are perpetuated by a crowd of people watching unperturbed, this is most disheartening and quite frankly, each act dehumanises us as a race”.
Nigerians woke up last week to disturbing pictures and videos on the internet showing the lynching of a young man purportedly in Badagry Lagos State.
There have been different reports on the identity of the victim which some say was a seven-year-old boy and also the location where the killing took place.
Although the veracity of the incident has not entirely been proven, what is the fact is that jungle justice occurs regularly in Nigeria.
In Niger State on Monday, there was a reported case of lynching of a young man that allegedly stole a mobile phone.
The suspect, after he stole the phone was chased after by another individual whom reports said was stabbed by the suspect.
After onlookers noticed that that pursuer had been stabbed, they surrounded the suspect and beat him until he was lifeless.
Police said both persons later died at a hospital in the city.
Also, the killing of four University of Port Harcourt students is still fresh in the minds of many Nigerians. they had been accused of stealing.
Lawmakers unanimously threw their weight behind the motion, with some of them condemning the barbaric act.
Senator Mao Ohuanbunwa said: “It is very clear and evident and it shows a loss of confidence by the people in the security agencies to defend them so they resort to self-defence which I think is a bad omen for this government and this country.
Another lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, pointed out that many of the cases arose as a result of the abandonment, neglect and rejection of Nigerians after election.
After deliberations on the issue, the Senate asked the Attorney General of the Federation, the States Attorney Generals as well as the police to show greater sense of duty in apprehending and prosecuting people who engage in lynching and mob action.