Jungle Justice has become a form of extrajudicial punishment that is alarmingly prevalent in Nigeria and now appears to be permeating educat
ional institutions.On a Friday night, May 25, 2024, a 200 level mechanical engineering student, Akor Alex, was accused of stealing a mobile phone, instead of reporting the incident to university authorities, his peers decided to take matters into their own hands.
The university’s management decided to expel two of the five students identified as bullies in the viral video, while two others were exonerated and one received a warning. To say the ongoing issue of bullying has become a serious concern in the country is an understatement. It has become a ticking time bomb owing to both governments’ and the institutions’ failure to enforce policies that protect students’ rights.
Through concerted efforts and cooperation from all stakeholders, it is believed that the education system can regain the trust of students and parents, ensuring a holistic development of future generations. They said the standard practices in schools are to maintain a presence among the students and actively monitor their behaviour. However, in this incident, it is evident that this protocol was not adhered to, as there was no one to monitor the area where the victim was subjected to torture.
An Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Baze University, Abuja, Dr Dennis Uba, explained that individuals who have experienced violence, stress, economic hardship or personal trauma are more prone to engage in mob violence. “These students may not necessarily support the initial cause of the violence but use it as a platform to voice their frustrations.”
“These efforts help raise awareness about the consequences of bullying, encourage empathy, and foster a safer environment. Fatoki added that there is a need for a fear of authority among students and adherence to constitutional rights, particularly the right to life guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution in Nigeria.
“Youths now mostly abuse drugs and parents now at times frown at schools that tend to take disciplinary measures against their child or that report their bad conducts. It is a collective measure in making the society saner. He said: “It is very sad and demoralising that university students, who should be presumed to be knowledgeable and exposed, can engage in jungle justice, let alone take the law into their own hands.Onafuwa emphasised that the Constitution, which serves as the nation’s grundnum, clearly outlines the rights of individuals alleged to have committed crimes. “These laws are sacrosanct to achieve a sane and working society that we all aspire ours to be.
He urged stakeholders in the criminal justice system to maintain its efficiency and effectiveness adding that the recurrent cases of jungle justice are often a result of the lack of faith in the criminal justice system. “With the present situation on the ground, anything can happen to any student. This has brought another dimension to what is going on in the school. The campus is no longer safe because of these accusations.
Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham expressed concern over the recent incidents involving disrespectful behaviors from hound individuals, urging parents and guardians to prioritise instilling values of respect and kindness on the younger generations. “Many of us were not raised the way we are raising our kids today. We are raising them with kid gloves because we believe times have changed. However, different times are not an excuse to raise disrespectful children.”
Abraham acknowledged the challenges of disciplining children but emphasised the long-term benefits of instilling values like respect, courtesy, responsibility, kindness, and hard work.
Justice System Nigerian Varsities Toyin Abraham
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nigeria’s luxury car market to experience steady growth despite rising inflationAccording to Statista, revenue in the Nigerian luxury car market is projected to reach $32 million by the end of 2024.
Read more »
Rising stars from the North: Five artistes you should know from northern NigeriaPoetic mastery, musical diversity, rhythmic complexity, social relevance, and cross-cultural exchange makes Hausa music a rich and distinctive artistic tradition. Hausa artists bring their unique styles and perspectives to the Hausa music scene, enriching it with a diverse range of sounds and themes.
Read more »
Rising food prices and insecurity in NigeriaFood security has been severely threatened in the country due to high inflation rates, supply chain disruptions, climate change and security challenges. These have heightened the level of poverty, hunger and social unrest.
Read more »
Nigeria financial sector faces rising malware threatThe Nation Newspaper Nigeria financial sector faces rising malware threat
Read more »
Firm expresses commitment to growth amid challengesHenkel Nigeria has outlined its plans for sustained business growth in Nigeria.
Read more »
Nigeria pathway to Africa, says Symrise NigeriaThe Nation Newspaper Nigeria pathway to Africa, says Symrise Nigeria
Read more »