Ummulkhairi: Punch Editorial Board calls for end to jungle justice in Nigeria

The Punch Editorial Board has issued a strong condemnation of jungle justice in Nigeria, following the gruesome killing of Ummulkhairi Aliyu, a schoolteacher and mother of four, in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State. Aliyu was reportedly accused of attempting to steal children and was subsequently murdered and burned by a mob, even after being initially rescued by police. The editorial highlights that such acts, fueled by rumor and baseless accusations, are prevalent across Nigeria and constitute murder, not justice. It emphasizes that in civilized societies, the power to determine guilt and impose punishment rests solely with the courts. The article cites numerous past incidents of mob violence, including the lynching of the Aluu Four and Deborah Samuel, to illustrate the widespread nature of this problem. It attributes the persistence of jungle justice to a lack of public trust in the criminal justice system, stemming from issues like police corruption, weak investigations, and slow trials. The editorial calls for the identification, arrest, and prosecution of all individuals involved in Aliyu's murder, including any police officers who allegedly handed her over to the mob. It also urges the government to implement comprehensive reforms, strengthen policing, and launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public against mob rule, asserting that jungle justice makes everyone unsafe and destroys generations.