When a person is murdered without going through due legal process, it is justice from the jungle.
Call it extrajudicial killings possibly by an angry mob and you’d be right.
But, it is cruel, barbaric, animalistic, inhuman, degrading and contrary to peace, unity and the progress of humanity..
The police are here to protect citizens. But, the policemen of any part of the world are not magicians. They need information from people to protect them.
In the serious business of safety and security, the police and the public must be partners in progress. I’m sure you agree with me, here.
Therefore, no one has the right under the sun to kill another, without going through legal process.
Why am I writing this? Well, the past week has been quite hectic for me as a practicing journalist in Lagos, Nigeria.
An angry mob reportedly killed some people suspected of being kidnappers or ritual murderers in various parts of Lagos.
People trapped and killed or beaten before being rescued by police were seen emerging from underground tunnels in some isolated areas.
Questioned by the mob, the captured people were unable to give satisfactory explanations of what they were doing in the tunnels. Then, the justice of the jungle was applied. A pity a copy.
Thank God, the police were able to rein in the rampant activities of the mafia and actually arrested some 30 suspects in connection with the barbaric acts.
It is observed that some people who may be mentally handicapped wander the streets and end up sleeping in some gutters, tunnels and abandoned buildings, taking all sorts of things with them.
Now the question is. How did the angry mob know if those they caught and beat or killed were innocent people, kidnappers, ritual murderers or people with mental problems?
Nigeria is my beloved country. It is a developing country. But, criminals are found in both the developing and developed countries of our world.
Therefore, some reckless and uninformed people should not apply jungle justice to others when the police are there to protect the citizens.
Safety and security is not just about the police. It’s also about the people.
The best police detective cannot work effectively without the information of the people. It is not my duty as a journalist to sing the praises of the police in Lagos. But, to be fair, the police are doing the best they can.
Roasting people to death under the guise of being suspected of being ritual murderers or kidnappers is demeaning to society and humanity. Yes, the media will report the incidents. But here the image of our beloved country is at stake.
