An average of 55 people have been killed every year in Nigeria in the last 11 years through mob violence, also known as jungle justice, Amnesty International has said.
The Programme Manager of Amnesty International Nigeria, Barbara Magaji, disclosed this at the weekend during an awareness campaign in Calabar tagged #JusticeNotJungle.
She said a study conducted by the rights group covered incidents of mob violence between 2012 and 2023, showing that 555 people lost their lives within the period.
Magaji explained that victims were often attacked over allegations of witchcraft, theft, blasphemy, or mistaken identity. She attributed the trend to public distrust in the justice system, misinformation, and frustration with slow legal processes.
“No one deserves to die without a fair hearing. Extrajudicial killings are never the answer,” she said, urging Nigerians to report suspected crimes to security agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.
She also urged the police to conduct thorough investigations and the judiciary to ensure speedy trials, lamenting that few perpetrators of mob killings are ever arrested or prosecuted.
“The culture of silence and complicity must end. We are calling on Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to stop mob violence,” she added.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Calabar Branch, Emume Amate, also condemned mob action, saying Nigerians must be guided by the constitution and the rule of law.
