A tragic incident of jungle justice unfolded in Amangbala, Ohaisu community, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where a man was fatally stabbed over a dispute involving a small levy during a local festival.
The victim, identified as Lawrence Peter, lost his life following an altercation with a fellow villager amid the community’s “Iko Ohaisu” festival celebrations.
The state police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
According to him, the suspect who carried out the stabbing has been apprehended and is currently in police custody. The police have also detained several other individuals from the area as investigations to unravel the circumstances of the killing are ongoing.
A community member, Chukwuemeka Oyim, provided more details on the incident. He explained that the suspect entered the Ogo Amaokwu-Amangbala chamber around 1 a.m., where festival preparations were underway. The suspect reportedly demanded a levy of N1,000 from everyone using the “Ogo” for their costumes during the festival, insisting on collecting the fee as a claim for cleaning the ceremonial site.
When the suspect confronted Lawrence Peter, Peter explained politely that he did not have any money on him at the time. Despite this, the suspect reportedly ignored the appeal and suddenly attacked Peter with a bottle, inflicting a deep wound to his head before fleeing the scene. The victim was quickly rushed to Maranatha Hospital in Afikpo but succumbed to his injuries.
This violent episode underscores the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands within communities and highlights the urgent need for peaceful conflict resolution, especially during cultural and communal events. Local authorities continue to investigate the matter, pledging to ensure justice for the victim and restore peace in the community.
Our correspondent reports that Jungle justice is fundamentally wrong and illegal under Nigerian law.
The Nigerian Constitution, specifically Section 33(1), guarantees every individual the right to life, while Section 36 provides for the right to a fair hearing and trial.
Any act of jungle justice, which involves taking the law into one’s own hands and meting out punishment without due process, directly violates these constitutional provisions and constitutes a serious breach of fundamental human rights.
The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), Section 8(1) and (3), explicitly prohibits mob justice and provides for criminal charges against anyone found participating in or instigating such acts.
Furthermore, the Senate passed the “Prohibition and Protection of Persons from Lynching, Mob Action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill” to criminalize jungle justice, with punishments including life imprisonment or at least 25 years for those convicted.
Security agents who fail to prevent or apprehend perpetrators are also subject to penalties, highlighting the gravity with which the law treats this issue.
Jungle justice not only undermines the rule of law but also perpetuates lawlessness and anarchy. It breaches the principle of natural justice, as suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, as enshrined in Section 36(5) of the Constitution.
The courts have consistently held that only judicial institutions have the authority to try and punish individuals, and any other form of punishment is unconstitutional and unlawful.
Thus, jungle justice is not only morally reprehensible but also a criminal offense with severe legal consequences in Nigeria.