Following the lynching of 7 years old boy by mobs on an allegation of stealing a bread or phone in Lagos which video widely circulated on the social media, the Senate yesterday condemned the rising cases of jungle justice in the country, saying acts of barbarism must stop. The curious case was beaten and burn to death.
Adopting a motion sponsored by Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East) and supported by Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), the Senate asked the police to immediately confirm or deny recent occurrence of mob actions in Lagos and other states.
The lawmakers urged the police to fish out perpetrators of the barbarism and ensure they were brought to book. The upper legislative chamber also urged the Senate Committee on Judiciary to urgently accelerate the passage of the anti-jungle justice bill before it.
The attorney-general of the federation, state attorneys-general and the police were urged to show greater sense of duty in apprehension and prosecution of offenders. They were admonished to protect younger persons.
Speaking on the motion titled “Condemning the rising cases of jungle justice in the country,” Ashafa said the lack of move against nasty behaviour had led to Nigeria being tagged as one of the countries with the worse cases of jungle justice in the world, despite being a religious country.
The lawmaker, who described the growing culture of some citizens taking the law into their own hands and meting out justice as they deem fit as most reprehensible, noted that section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life and that no Nigerian’s life should be taken except in accordance with the rule of law.
In his contribution, Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) said it was quite unfortunate that mob justice was becoming a way of life in communities, towns and villages. He attributed the situation to the loss of confidence among the people, the government and the law enforcement agencies.
Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North) blamed the situation on the level of hunger in the country and the loss of confidence in the security agencies to defend them. He said it was a bad omen for the current administration and the country, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said.
The case lynching to death of the 7 year old boy was shameful and barbaric. It’s most annoying and disgusting that the governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and the police are yet to say anything on the issue. Are we a country of buffoons where no premium is given to life?
