Granted, there’s nothing that brings out the beast in man than finding out that he had been robbed or his property forcefully taken from him. It makes him feel inadequate and therefore, angry.

Not many Nigerians knew about the existence of Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state in Nigeria. This is because it used to be a relatively peaceful community inhabited by mostly indigenes of the state and a few students of the University of Port Harcourt.

A month ago, all that changed. Mid-day of Friday the 5th of October, pictures of some young men who had been beaten and burnt to death circulated the interwebs. To say the pictures presented a gory sight is an understatement. One could only wonder the crime that warranted such cruel punishment. One wasn’t left to wonder for long as findings from social media revealed that the boys were students of the University of Port Harcourt, identified as Lloyd, Tekena, Ugonna and Chidiaka. Apparently, they were clubbed and burnt to death on suspicions of robbery.

The poor boys have since been declared innocent by the Nigeria Police Force. It turns out that it was a cruel murder master-minded by someone who owed them money. A terrible set-up.

One was forced to think we had been transported back to the Dark Ages where criminals were burnt at the stake. Why in the name of all things sane and righteous would young people be roasted like animals? What atrocity could they have committed to warrant such a penalty?

There have been lots of cases involving jungle justice all over Nigeria especially the streets of Lagos. One guesses the reason for the uproar over this is because it is closer to home by the existence of social media which one is grateful for. Granted, there’s nothing that brings out the beast in man than finding out that he had been robbed or his property forcefully taken from him. It makes him feel inadequate and therefore, angry. Oh, what he would do to the thief if he’s lucky to come across him again, he reasons.

The boys had been accused of stealing phones and laptops without evidence to prove it. Under the Nigerian Law, an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. These young men deserved to be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency, charged to court where they would be tried while the onus rests on the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt and if found guilty, made to suffer the adequate sanction as provided by the law.

One is forced to think the reason for jungle justice in Nigeria is because the people need a scapegoat as they can’t get to the thieves in government who cart away billions of naira from right under their noses. Fortunately/unfortunately, there is a law responsible for that and there is a law enforcement agency to ensure that law is carried out to the fullest.

To that effect, one hopes the police force will get up and do that. The killers brought to book and made to face the consequences. We can as well scrap the police in Nigeria and live in chaos if they cannot do the job they were created to do.

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Frank Ugo is a writer, foodie. and an on-air personality in another world.

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30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians to share their stories and experiences with other young Nigerians, within our borders and beyond, to inspire and motivate them.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.