Nigeria police launch campaign against jungle justice amid public distrust

Authorities in Nigeria's Cross River State are actively campaigning against "jungle justice," a practice where mobs take the law into their own hands to punish suspected criminals. The police command, led by spokesperson Sunday Eitokpa, is urging residents to hand over suspects to the police rather than resorting to violence.

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Justice, not jungle justice. Cross River State Police Command says no to jungle justice.

Eitokpa directly addressed communities, emphasizing that the legal system, not vigilantes, holds the authority to determine guilt and impose punishment. He highlighted the constitutional right to a fair hearing and warned that participating in mob violence makes individuals murderers. "It is not your place to deliver justice," Eitokpa stated, urging people to call the police instead of assaulting suspects.

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It is not your place to deliver justice, whether the person stole or not. It is not your duty to assault or take the person somewhere. Call the police.

The campaign has revealed a deep societal divide regarding confidence in Nigeria's justice system. While many Facebook users applauded the police's direct community engagement, others expressed skepticism. Commenters pointed to alleged corruption within the police force and the perceived release of suspects after arrest as drivers of mob justice.

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Violence does not solve anything; it only creates more victims. If you kill one suspect today and tomorrow you kill another, how long will that continue? You will become a murderer.

Some residents voiced frustration, questioning the effectiveness of reporting suspects if they are later released. Others argued that distrust in the system, where perceived corruption allows criminals to go free, fuels the desire for immediate retribution. The police command, under Commissioner Rashid Afegbua, has vowed to prosecute anyone involved in jungle justice, but public opinion remains sharply divided.

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Make people suffer, catch thieves, come give u, so that una go dey collect bail money chop abii?? shift