The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), along with prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, have strongly condemned the lynching of 16 hunters in Uromi, Edo State. Local vigilantes allegedly mistook the hunters for kidnappers and brutally executed them.
NBA Raises Concerns Over Vigilante Justice
NBA President Afam Osigwe, in a statement on Saturday, expressed grave concern over rising cases of mob justice across Nigeria. “The gruesome murder of the hunters highlights the alarming rise of vigilante justice in the country,” Osigwe stated.
He further emphasized, “It is deeply troubling that mobs continue to take the law into their hands. Attacking and lynching suspected criminals without law enforcement intervention. No individual, regardless of the crime they are accused of, should be subjected to mob violence.”
According to reports, vigilantes and armed youths allegedly attacked the victims, who were reportedly hunters traveling from Rivers to Kano for Sallah. They stopped the hunters on Uromi/Obajana Expressway in Esan North-East Local Government Area, dragged them out of their truck, beat them. They set them ablaze after falsely accusing them of kidnapping.
The Nigerian police announced on Friday that they had arrested 14 suspects in connection with the lynching.
The NBA stressed in its statement that authorities must investigate, prosecute every accused person in court, ensuring their right to due process. “Allowing mob actions to persist undermines our criminal justice system and paints Nigeria as a society where lawlessness prevails,” the association warned.
Osigwe urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that such crimes do not go unpunished. “Justice must be served, and perpetrators of mob violence must be held accountable to deter future occurrences,” he added.
The NBA called on the Edo State Government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. “Vigilante justice has no place in a society governed by the rule of law,” the statement concluded.
Human Rights Organizations Demand Accountability
Global Rights, a human rights nonprofit organization, also called for a full-scale investigation. In a statement on Saturday, its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, described the incident as a grave violation of human rights and the rule of law.
“These individuals were tragically mistaken for kidnappers, and rather than following due process, vigilantes unlawfully took the law into their own hands, resulting in the extrajudicial killing of innocent people,” Baiyewu stated.
She emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life under Section 33(1), which asserts that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of a court sentence.”
“The unlawful targeting of individuals based on suspicion, ethnicity, or way of life is a dangerous trend that violates constitutional rights and fuels insecurity,” she warned.
While acknowledging public frustration over the government’s failure to curb banditry and kidnapping, Baiyewu insisted that vigilante justice cannot be justified.
Political Figures Call for Justice
Reacting to the killings, Peter Obi condemned the incident, describing it as a threat to national security. “Such killings have become a recurring tragedy in our decaying society. Acts of violence like these are abhorrent and had no place in our society yesterday. Just as they should have no place in any decent society today,” Obi stated on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
He added, “Every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic or regional background, has the right to move freely and safely within our nation.”
Atiku Abubakar also expressed outrage, calling for justice on his Facebook page. “This unfortunate incident demands a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done to restore public confidence in our security institutions,” Atiku wrote.
Wider Concerns Over Jungle Justice in Nigeria
Jungle justice remains a deeply rooted issue in Nigeria, driven by distrust in law enforcement, religious tensions, and mob mentality. Amnesty International and other notable figures, including former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, have condemned the tragedy. Prompting President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation.
This is not an isolated case. Over the years, mob violence has claimed numerous lives, often fueled by religious and ethnic divisions. The recent incident in Uromi, where vigilante group intercepted truck carrying 25 travelers and accused them of being kidnappers. Underscores the dangers of extrajudicial killings.
Amnesty International reported that mobs carried out at least 555 violent attacks between 2012 and 2023. Causing 57 recorded deaths, including victims who were burned or buried alive. The absence of swift legal action against perpetrators has emboldened further acts of jungle justice.
As Nigeria grapples with growing security challenges, stakeholders stress urgent need for reforms to curb vigilante excesses and uphold the rule of law.
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