As most Nigerians must have heard by now, a group of young boys were beaten and burnt alive in one of the most gruesome and barbaric acts that a fellow human being can carry out on another human. Some people have condemned the killings while others have supported it. I have decided to with-hold my comments on this issue until the real facts are out.
One fact for sure that comes out of this story is the sorry state of the Nigerian police force and justice system. Many communities in Nigeria have taken it upon themselves to form vigilante groups to protect their homes and communities because the police can not be trusted anymore. We have all heard stories about police men that supply arms to criminals. The other day, I heard from a friend about policemen that give information to criminals regarding the safest routes to escape after commiting crimes. A friend went to the police station to report a "419 criminal" that had duped him but ended up being the locked up accused after the fraudster bribed police men. Nobody has confidence in the Nigerian police force. Nobody!
The legal system stinks. The highest bidder gets the better side of judgements while the less privileged are left to suffer. Look at the case of Ibori, Alamaegha and other rogues. The Nigerian courts acquitted these criminals!
Given that these essential systems are so weak in a lawless country like Nigeria, how do people protect themselves from hardened criminals who have taken to wicked acts of crime as a means of employment? Do people just go out and work hard and give all their earnings to criminals? Should we allow criminals into our homes to rape our wives, mothers,sisters and daughters? I do not think so.
It is based on these premises that some communities have taken laws into their hands in order to protect their communities. Many of these communities form vigilante groups that act as the police men of their communities and usually engage in jungle justice to deter would be criminals from terrorizing their people. Unfortunately, some of the criminals caught by these groups never live to tell of their experiences with these groups as they are murdered in broad daylight by these groups in order to instill fear in the minds of potential criminals. They justify these acts by saying that these criminals would be set free by the police men as many of them have partners in the force. They also let you know that those that make it to the courts can bribe their ways out of the situation with a few thousand nairas. Can we blame them?
The government of Nigeria should increase funding to the police force while ensuring that these funds are not embezelled by the leaders of the police force. The Nigerian government also needs to clean up the mess in the courts to bring back confidence in the legal system. Finally, Government must provide jobs and infrastructure for small businesses to operate in order to keep our young people busy and away from crime.
Only after these critical measures are taken would jungle justice be eradicated from Nigeria.
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