The Senate on Tuesday urged the Nigerian Police to fish out all perpetrators of Jungle Justice in the country. The upper chamber of the National Assembly also asked the Police to immediately confirm or deny the recent report of killing of 7 years old boy over alleged stealing of Cassava flakes in Lagos.
The lawmakers who condemn in totality these barbaric act, urges its committee on judiciary to accelerate the passage of Anti-Jungle Justice Bill before it.
The development follows a motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa on the rising cases of Jungle Justice in the country. The Senator expressed distressed by the rising cases of Jungle Justice by mobs that have arrogated to themselves the power to condemn others to death and execute judgment without recourse to the law courts in different parts of the country.
He also expressed worry about this trend, especially the case of a 7 year old boy that was lynched in the Orile area of Lagos State for stealing Cassava Flakes. “These rising barbaric acts are in most cases perpetrated with a crowd of people watching unperturbed is the most disheartening and frightening as each act dehumanizes us as a race. That this is happening and continues to become more alarming everyday in these considerable hard conditions our people are passing through” Ashafa said.
He reiterated that the growing culture of citizens or anyone in particular taken law into their own hand and meting out justice as they deem fit is most reprehensible.
In his contribution the Senate Leader Ali Ndume who co-sponsored the motion said the case of the 7 years old boy has gone varied. “This is why we are asking the Police to confirm the report” Ndume said.
Ndume added that similar cases have continued to occur in the country. He said lawmakers in the country cannot move round and wave to people without police for fear of mob action. “In those days, lawmakers can move around and wave to the people but in this days, you dear not try moving around without police because you are scared of mob action” Ndume said.
Senator Shehu Sani said many of the cases of Jungle Justice is as a result of abandonment of the people by politicians after elections.
In his remark, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said a nation where people begin to take law into their hand is worrisome. He urged the Police and Other Security Agencies to live up their responsibilities to protect the people.
