DESPITE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS, JUNGLE JUSTICE PERSIST

By Habibat Muhammad Sani

A rumour often travels faster than evidence in many parts of Nigeria. Sometimes, it kills.

On 14 June 2026, in Mararaban Jos along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, a teacher and mother of five, Ummulkhairi, stepped out but never made it back home. According to accounts, she had stopped to ask some children for directions to the venue of an Islamic lecture when some women reportedly accused her of attempting to kidnap them.

She was subsequently taken to a nearby police station. But tensions continued to rise as a crowd gathered outside. Witnesses say efforts by family members, Islamic scholars and community leaders to calm the situation failed. The mob allegedly dragged her out of the station, killed her, and set her body ablaze in front of the very institution meant to protect her.

Her death was not an isolated tragedy. It reflects a persistent pattern of extrajudicial violence that continues to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of the right to life and fair hearing. Across the country, streets have increasingly become courtrooms, with mobs acting as judge, jury and executioner.

WHEN SUSPICION BECOMES A DEATH SENTENCE

In March 2025, in Uromi, Edo State, 16 hunters travelling north were intercepted by local vigilantes. The discovery of Dane guns—common tools used for hunting—sparked suspicion. Within minutes, a crowd formed. The men were beaten, tied up and burnt alive.

More than a decade earlier, in 2012, four students of the University of Port Harcourt met a similar fate after being falsely accused of theft. Their lynching sparked national outrage, yet years later, little appears to have changed.

Mob violence has also been fuelled by religious tensions. In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a student in Sokoto, was lynched following allegations of blasphemy. The incident demonstrated how quickly unverified claims can turn fatal.

These killings reflect a broader pattern in which suspicion, rumour and collective anger override due process. In many cases, victims are never given the opportunity to defend themselves.

Even spaces meant to provide protection have become vulnerable. Reports have documented mobs surrounding police stations and demanding that suspects be handed over for “justice.” In some cases, as with Ummulkhairi, they succeed.

WHY MOB JUSTICE ENDURES

At its core, jungle justice reflects a collapse of public trust in Nigeria’s justice system.

Amnesty International says mob violence points to deep failures in law enforcement and accountability. The organisation has documented at least 555 victims of mob killings in recent years, warning that the actual figure is likely much higher because many incidents go unreported.

Responding to recent cases, Amnesty described the trend as “appalling,” arguing that the failure of Nigeria’s security and justice institutions to prevent mob killings, investigate them thoroughly and prosecute perpetrators has emboldened offenders.

“The failure of law enforcement agencies is empowering mobs to kill,” the organisation said, calling for independent investigations and accountability, particularly in cases where security personnel are alleged to have been negligent or complicit.

The Nigerian government has consistently condemned jungle justice. Following the Kaduna killing, state authorities described the attack as a violation of the rule of law and commended the police for arresting suspects linked to the incident. Officials reiterated that no individual or group has the right to take another person’s life outside established legal processes.

Similarly, after high-profile mob killings in Edo and Sokoto, federal authorities pledged to bring perpetrators to justice. In some cases, suspects have been arrested and arraigned. Yet convictions remain relatively rare, and the deterrent effect appears limited.

For many Nigerians, the gap between official assurances and lived reality remains wide.

Slow judicial processes, allegations of corruption and an inadequate security presence, particularly in rural communities, have contributed to a growing perception that justice is either delayed or denied. In such an environment, many communities resort to immediate—and unlawful—action.

Rising insecurity, including kidnapping and banditry, has further intensified public fear, lowering the threshold for violence and making communities more likely to react to suspicion.

BETWEEN THE LAW AND THE MOB

Human rights lawyer Abdulrahman Yusuf believes the persistence of jungle justice is rooted in systemic failure and declining public confidence in state institutions.

“What we are witnessing is a dangerous substitution of due process with public emotion,” he said.

He argues that one of the key drivers is weakness within the justice system itself. In some cases, suspects are able to influence outcomes through bribery, while charges may be reduced, allowing offenders to escape appropriate punishment. Even lawful processes, when perceived as unfair, can fuel public anger.

“When people see offenders manipulate the system, it destroys trust,” Yusuf said.

Delays in the judicial process further compound the problem. Cases often take years to conclude, leaving victims and their families frustrated and convinced that justice may never come. Such delays create space for people to seek alternatives outside the law.

Yusuf also points to challenges within law enforcement, including inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, low welfare and weak institutional support. These factors undermine police effectiveness and erode public confidence. Families of officers who die in the line of duty often struggle to receive adequate compensation, further affecting morale across the force.

This lack of trust shapes public behaviour. Suspects apprehended by mobs frequently plead to be handed over to the police, yet many communities remain unconvinced that justice will follow. In many instances, security personnel are simply overwhelmed by large crowds and unable to intervene effectively.

For Yusuf, the persistence of mob violence signals a deeper breakdown in the relationship between citizens and the state.

“The law is clear. Taking a life outside judicial authority is murder. But enforcement is inconsistent. When perpetrators are not held accountable, it sends a message that such actions can continue without consequence,” he said.

REBUILDING TRUST, RESTORING JUSTICE

For Yusuf, restoring public confidence is central to ending jungle justice.

“People need to see that the police will respond promptly, that investigations will be thorough, and that courts will deliver justice without unnecessary delay. Without that confidence, communities will keep resorting to self-help.”

Public education also remains essential. Agencies such as the National Orientation Agency must intensify sensitisation campaigns to educate citizens on the rule of law and the consequences of mob violence.

Judicial reform is equally critical. Reducing delays and ensuring timely trials would help restore confidence in the justice system. Legal practitioners also have a responsibility to avoid unnecessary adjournments that prolong cases.

Improving police welfare is another important step. Better funding, insurance and institutional support would strengthen law enforcement and rebuild public trust.

Ultimately, accountability remains the defining test. Without the consistent investigation, prosecution and conviction of those responsible for mob killings, the cycle is unlikely to end.

“Today it is a suspected thief. Tomorrow, it could be an innocent person—or anyone falsely accused. Without due process, everyone becomes vulnerable,” Yusuf warned.

In a nation governed by the rule of law, the continued rise of jungle justice raises a troubling question: who truly decides justice?

Until Nigeria restores public confidence in its justice system through swift investigations, fair trials and consistent accountability, the streets may continue to deliver verdicts that no court ever sanctioned.