As jungle justice seems to be on the rise in parts of Rivers State, women are identified as worst hit by the illegal act, prompting concerned individuals to call for urgent action to arrest the ugly trend through civilized means of addressing crimes and related issues
By Chidedu Oguh,
Port Harcourt
A video showing a woman being assaulted and humiliated in a market in Port Harcourt has gone viral, sparking outrage over jungle justice and the treatment of alleged petty theft offenders. The footage which circulated widely on social media shows a woman surrounded by a crowd in what appears to be a market area. She was accused of stealing unripe plantains from a trader’s stall.
In the video, the woman was stripped naked, beaten and forced to bite and chew an unripe plantain as onlookers jeer and record with their mobile phones. The exact location within Port Harcourt and date of the incident have not been confirmed by authorities.
The Rivers State Police Command has not released an official statement on the matter and it is unclear if a formal complaint was lodged. Human rights groups and legal experts have condemned the act, describing it as unlawful and a violation of the woman’s dignity and personal safety.
Under Nigerian law, assault, unlawful restraint and public humiliation are criminal offenses regardless of whether the accused person is guilty of theft. Barrister Mike Ndu, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner explains further, “Taking the law into your hands does not make you a victim. It makes you a suspect. The correct procedure is to hand over any suspected offender to the police for investigation and prosecution.”
Tentacle learnt that The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 which applies in Rivers State specifically prohibits degrading treatment and violence against persons. Offenders can face fines and imprisonment if convicted. The incident has renewed calls for market associations and community leaders to establish proper reporting channels and work with law enforcement.
Traders often cite slow police response and repeated theft as reasons for resorting to mob action, but advocates argue that mob justice only deepens insecurity and erodes trust in the legal system. Another jungle justice was also recently recorded in Rumuigbo, a suburb of Port Harcourt after a woman identified as Blessing said to be from Akwa Ibom State, was accused of causing the death of her business colleague, a woman known as Glory. The case has caused a lot of tension in the community with many residents shocked over what they say happened between the two women who were once business partners or competitors. According to reports from people in the area, Glory suddenly became sick and died shortly after.
The death was said to be very fast and unexpected, which made her family suspicions. Because of this, Glory’s husband reportedly decided to seek help from a religious leader (prophet) to understand what caused his wife’s death. It was alleged that the prophet told the family that someone close to Glory in her business circle was responsible for her death. Following this information said to have been given by the prophet, community members and family reportedly traced the matter back to Blessing, who also runs a business in the same area. They went to her shop and confronted her. Eyewitnesses said the confrontation become very tense as people demanded answer from her.
At first, Blessing reportedly denied any involvement. However, as pressure increased she later allegedly confessed that she was responsible for Glory’s death. In her alleged confession, Blessing claimed that her action was connected to jealousy over business success. She said Glory’s business was doing better than her and she felt her own business was struggling. She also allegedly said that she used spiritual means (commonly referred to as juju) obtained from her village, claiming that she had no other option at the time. Tentacle further gathered that after the alleged confession, the situation became very chaotic. Angry residents reportedly attacked her and in the process she was stripped naked by a mob. The action caused serious concern as the situation quickly turned from accusations to mob violence. Security operatives from the estate were said to have intervened when things got out of control. They reportedly called the police to handle the situation before it escalated further.
Police officers later arrived at the scene and took Blessing into custody for questioning. She is currently being held as investigations continue into both the death of Glory and the allegations made against her. Authorities are expected to look into the real cause of Glory’s death, and also investigate the mob action, as taking the law into one’s hands is also a criminal offense.
The incident has caused fear and mixed reactions in the community. Most residents expressed shock over what should have a business disagreement or competition could allegedly lead to such a tragic outcome. Some people questioned how far jealousy in business could escalate to accusations of spiritual harm and violence. One resident said people should learn to settle disputes properly instead of allowing emotions and anger to take over.
As earlier reported, two women suspected of involvement in a kidnapping incident in Port Harcourt were subjected to public humiliation after being stripped naked. The incident captured in a video has reignited debate over the escalating incidents of jungle justice in the oil-rich state popularly called the Treasure Base of the Nation.
Members of the public are therefore, advised to always seek peaceful means of resolving disputes and report grievances to appropriate authorities rather than resorting to violence and mob action in their best interest, justice and fairness.
