JUNGLE JUSTICE: FACTS AND FARCE ABOUT IT

[Source( http://www.herald.ng/jungle-justice-alleged-thief-lagos-photos/)]

JUNGLE JUSTICE: FACTS AND FARCE ABOUT IT

Over many decades and centuries ago lynching aka jungle justice has been a means of punishments to those that rape, steal, kidnap, and did all sorts of unlawful acts. Thus, jungle justice can also include; extremely beating by the jungle justice mob and forceful striping off of the suspect clothing without necessarily killing him or her.

Such practices have been well noted mainly in uncivilized or third world countries. The point is; why would this means of seeking justice still exist in this our modern era.

However, there are some excuses or reasons why some persons choose to resort to jungle justice by taking laws into their own hands. At the end of this brief post, we shall be looking into some reasons why people still practice jungle justice in this civilized society and lessons we can learn from it.

Reasons for Jungle Justice

• Lack Of Trust In The Judiciary

One of the major reasons why people engage in jungle justice is lack of trust in the judiciary and good governance. It is quite sad and unfortunate that after capturing a rapist, petty thief, an armed robber, a kidnaper or a manslayer with proper evidence for prosecution by the court, few weeks thereafter such ones moves freely without receiving any punishment by the law.

Perhaps it could be that money has exchange hands or the suspect has someone in the authority that pulls some strings for his or her release which actually led to non-prosecution of such ones.

Another factor is lingering of judgment by the judiciary. Long and overdue cases will certainly upset the victim’s loved ones. Experiences have shown that some cases have stayed up to 3-5years before justice was delivered.

Due to such injustice in a society, people now decide to take laws into their hands by engaging in fast and quick justice which is jungle justice.

• Economic Hardship.

Economic hardship is another contributing reason why some persons involve themselves in lynching. In some countries were their economy is very bad, most persons that lives in such affected areas are mentally unstable. There is some sort of latent anger running in their body which is actually unveiled when a crime related issues occurred.

Psychologically such ones are mentally imbalance and that has really resulted in some form of attack if anyone is cut in any unlawful practices. There is a saying that says “a hungry man is an angry man”. And that saying is absolute correct.

Local Perception

Some people simply grew up and meet this kind of unjustly practice. They kept on passing the trend to generation after another thinking that is a normal way of life.

JUNGLE JUSTICE, WRONG JUSTICE

There are many reasons why jungle justice should be prohibited and why we should desist in such practices.

1. One fact is life is too sacred. Despite the gravity of unlawful act perpetrated by some persons, we should never take the life of such ones. We have laws and principles that guide every nation, let the long arm of the law hit on the accused until proven guilty or innocent. Experiences have shown that some persons have been killed wrongly.

2. The second point is that we may not have all the facts. There is a big probability that we may not have all the facts regarding the suspected or accused persons. Due to sentiments and emotions some persons will not hear the other side of the story forgetting that there is a two side story in every situation.

CONCLUSION

Nevertheless, with all these reasons can jungle justice be justified? No is the answer. No matter how bad and corrupt the system may be whether bad governance, economic hardship etc. we should never ever engage in jungle justice.

Let’s unanimously say no to jungle justice.

Let us see lessons we can learn from this fictional story:

[Source(http://www.pulse.ng/gist/jungle-justice-young-lady-stripped-naked-for-stealing-phone-in-warri-graphic-photo-id5069876.html)]

A Fictional Story

On a very hot afternoon, the sun was between 38- 40◦C having a scorching effect on my body. It was around 2pm, as I was going to my see my client from my office. I waited patiently for bus to take me to my destination.

While I was waiting, i saw a young man between the age of 30-35years, properly dressed in white shirt stocked into his black plain trouser with a brown belt and brown shoe to complement his fashion, and i guess he was also waiting for bus. A lot of people were at that spot too.

Soon enough, a bus arrived and people starting moving into the vehicle, but then I was walking gently to the bus, admiring the color combination of this young man’s dressing also considering how dusty, dirty and scattered the environment was, with hoodlum (Agbero) hanging here and there waiting for buses to come so that they will load the bus and collect their normal commission.
Then all of a sudden, I heard a lady shouting thief, thief, catch him, he steal my money, look at him he is a thief. You steal my money and you want to enter the bus and ran away

To my greatest expectation some hoodlums started hitting this young man with terrible slap on face. What did I do? He asked politely. You are a thief the lady replied. Then those hoodlums picked up different kinds of weapon and start hitting him not minding his appearance.

Tears were almost rolling down my eyes considering how dirty these guys hitting him looks and how clean and nicely dressed the victim was. Steve could not possibly be a thief judging him by appearance and look.

His white shirt was gradually changing color combination with stains of blood from his flesh and before he could understand what is happening, he was already lying helplessly on that dirty ground. And gradually his shirts was flying out from his trouser and cutting down patch by patch.

He steals my money. Thief! Thief! The woman continues screaming, give me my money. How much did he steal from you madam asked a voice from the angry mob? My five thousand, this man steals said the woman. Then they searched him and found N5000 (five thousand naira) and small pieces of change.

I can explain, please wait let me explain, Steve pleaded exhaustingly, but the hitting only increased because five thousand naira was found in his wallet. They were hitting him so hard that his flesh came out with the sticks as he was gradually going naked. Please, let me explain, I did not steal her money, Steve continues to lament as gradually his voice reduced.

Then Bernard was almost naked because, they condemned his cloth on his body and then he was exhausted, I couldn’t help but watch from one end of the road with heavy tears rolling down my eyes. Steve shouted in great pain as he struggled to get up but was exhausted was lying helplessly.

As people were watching in aghast, I heard someone calling; mummy mummy to the woman who her money was stolen. She turned and saw her son running towards her and on reaching her he said loudly drawing the attention of the crowd; mummy daddy said that I should give you this N5000 (Five thousand naira), that he took it from your bag. Suddenly!! the entire scene was as quite as a cemetery. The mob’s eyes widened, jaw dropped and someone let out a cry he is not Steve that stole the money but Steve was just as good as dead.

It was 9:00pm that day, Steve’s wife (newly married with her 3months old baby boy) called her elder sister; Hello Jessica, did you say Steve came to shop today? Yes, and I gave him five thousand to give to you, is he not back? Oh! My God, he’s not yet back. Where has he gone to? My husband is not like that, he had never returned this late before. Steve’s wife replied with her baby in her hand your dad will be back soon, maybe he branched to see a friend.

This is my story and it’s all fiction. Similar thing happens every day in our country other parts of the world.

JUNGLE JUSTICE IS NOT THE BEST OPTION; LET’S STOP JUNGLE JUSTICE TODAY AND SAVE LIFE, BOTH THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY.

SAY NO TO JUNGLE JUSTICE.

I hope you enjoyed the post. Please kindly consider resteeming the post in order to create awareness about jungle justice.

Keep a date with me @beth147 for more interesting post but this time not on jungle justice.

Thanks