By Ewah Chika.

Jungle justice is a very bad practice in Nigeria that must be condemned by all. The main problem of jungle justice is that the accused is not given the luxury to defend him or herself as he is already found guilty even though there is little or no witness during the time of the crime. This makes it easy to set-up innocent people and get them lynched. Where jungle justice is prevalent people can easily gang up against their enemies or friends so as to have them executed. Also, the purpose of punishing a culprit isn't to destroy or kill him but to correct him which is the reason for the implementation of the rule of law unlike jungle justice where the purpose is to kill and destroy one.

Having said all these, it is important to note that in a lawless and corrupt society like Nigeria where the police are the no longer secure lives and properties but indulge in the killing of the lives they should protect. In places where criminals are caught and handed over to the police, these same people are released and acquitted by the same police with no justice done although this can only be done if the police receive certain financial benefits (bribe). This not only frustrates the people who constantly live in fear but also pushes them to take laws into their hands.

Not many people know the story of a certain armed robber and serial rapist called Badoo in Ikorodu, Lagos State. For months this hardened criminal had been living above the law and larger than life, raping not less than a dozen women and kids and at the same time killing several of them after his unholy act. What is shocking is the choice of the rapist who prefers widows and women over 50 whose husband are either dead or not at home and also children between the ages of 3-10. On several occasions, the police have done nothing to see that the rapist was put behind bars often choosing to make light of Badoo's criminal acts.

It was not surprising that late last month like every other criminal that has a bad day in the course of their unholy act, 'Badoo' was apprehended by the Ikorodu community and beaten to pulp and was almost lynched before the traditional ruler of Ibeshe Land and police requested that he be handed over to them so he could face the full wrath of the justice. Like every law abiding community, Ikorodu community obliged this request and Badoo was handed over to the police . It was suspicious that the same traditional ruler who never did anything to see that this criminal was arrested and who kept mute as he reigned terror on the community was the one advocating for the rule of law. Was the king merely acting up and hiding certain things or is it a coincidence that he was mute while the terror lasted but was now active when he was arrested and even solicited for him to be handed over to the police.

Like one that goes back to his vomit, Badoo was quickly back to his old habits after he had bribed his release from police custody. Unlike the other period, the criminal became more deadly as he upped the stakes becoming more deadly . The good news is that the criminal was re-arrested on Saturday July 23, after raping an 8-year-old girl during a celestial church vigil . But unlike in other cases, he was not only beaten pulp but also burnt alive in the full glare of the jubilant public who had taken the law into their hands.

Though this was ugly and condemnable but it was apparent to get rid of the criminal who became a thorn in their flesh. Rather than blame the community , the Nigerian Police and traditional ruler must be held responsible as their behaviour smacks of irresponsibility and negligence . Badoo is dead and gone but the manner is regrettable and must not be continued , jungle justice isn't the way forward but at the same thing the authorities must take some blame.

Source

http://mailtelegraph..com/2016/07/badoos-lynching-in-ikorodu-when-police.html#more

A case of all man for himself.... Lord help us in this nation.

Well said. The Police Force and the king failed the people. The failed innocent children and adults who were raped, maimed or killed. Everybody go rest now. Jungle justice is not good, but abetting and condoning criminality is worse