I could still see his left eyeball falling off its socket. Mashed flesh dripping blood, occupied what used to be his mouth. His head had bulging lumps. His face was smeared beyond recognition. Blood was gushing out of his body like a running stream. I couldn’t help but scream, “Don’t kill him!”
But my voice dissipated in the evaporating vapour of noises. They had blood in their eyes and contempt in their hearts. They had cutlasses, stones, and matches. They had sticks, whips, and kerosene. Some had iron fists and spear toes. All were not spared on this child.
“Na so dem dey do. If we no teach am lesson, dey no go learn. Bring dat tire!” A huge man ordered.
I watched as they ringed the tiny boy in the tyre, swamped him with kerosene and gasoline. I watched as they lit the matches. The horrific gory scene never left me.
The teenage boy got lynched because he had stolen a wallet from a shop in the market. This is the story of at least one person who dies every day on the streets of Africa. Citizens now and then, take the law into their hands and execute it however they deem fit. These locals may be criminals themselves but in the court of the streets, only the caught is guilty. And the guilty are hastily judged and punished even when there is no proof of his guiltiness. He is either beaten to death or burned alive. The mob is never satisfied until blood is shed.
We may easily term these nationals barbarians and savages, and yes, they are. But this is what happens when the rate of crime is always on the rise and there is no faith in the judicial system. In Nigeria, hundreds are either being robbed, kidnapped, or killed daily. The police never show up on the crime scene and when they do, and the perpetrators are arrested, they could bribe their way out, or if they are arraigned, the justice system is slow in passing judgement. Whereas, the citizens have found out over time that jungle justice is fast and brings order in the society because people relent from committing crimes for the fear of being lynched.
Jungle justice nevertheless, is a heinous crime because it infringes on a person’s rights to fair hearing and life. Most times the innocent are killed only because they are suspected to be criminals. Jungle justice is also unjust. Grievous punishments are meted out for simple offences. Minors are set ablaze only for stealing a loaf of bread. Offences that deserve a prison term are punished by death or mutilation. Jungle justice is no justice. Anyone could be a victim of jungle justice whether or not he or she commits a crime.
It is high time the African government addressed this quagmire. The justice systems should be reliable so that citizens can trust them to administer justice. They should be fast in arresting suspects and quick to dispense judgement. There should be zero tolerance for bribery and corruption. The law should also not turn a blind eye to the executors of jungle justice.
When the judicial systems are perceived as responsible and effective, citizens will have faith in them and will not have to resort to jungle justice.
That teenage boy would not have been lynched. He would have been judged rightly by the court of law.