Senate charges Police, FG on disturbing increase in jungle justice in Nigeria
The public outrage over a recent mob attack on a teenager who allegedly stole phones and wallets has prompted the Senate to deliberate on launching a probe into the incident.
Rumours circulated a week ago that a seven-year-old boy was lynched for stealing garri, but NewsroomNG immediately confirmed the reports as false. It turned out the victim of the mob attack was a boy, believed to be in his late teens, who was burnt for allegedly robbing his victim at Alaafia bus-stop, Orile.
The jungle justice meted out on him attracted mixed reactions from all quarters.
In a bid to uncover the masterminds behind the attack, the upper chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday spoke on a motion titled ‘Condemning the Rising Cases of Jungle Justice in the Country,’ calling on the Nigeria Police to launch a probe into the case and to specifically confirm or reject the authenticity of the story.
The lawmakers, who took turns to condemn the killings, cited the recent increase in cases of lynching as an indication that the people were losing confidence in the government.
They laid part of the blame at the feet of security agencies, whom they accused of failing in their responsibility to enforce law in the country.
The motion was moved by Senator Olugbenga Ashafa, and co-sponsored by the Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume.
“I can directly attribute it to the loss of confidence between the people, the government and the law enforcement agencies,” Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna-Central, said.
