By Divine Morine
When stealing becomes a show and the street becomes the court.
Jungle justice has been one of Nigeria’s disturbing realities, commonly known as mob violence. It occurs when people take the law into their own hands without a trial or police intervention.
Over the past few years in Nigeria, whenever someone shouts, “Thief!”, people nearby often look for stones, sticks, and tyres, ready to beat the suspect severely or even burn the person alive without properly investigating whether he or she is guilty.
This has claimed the lives of many innocent youths. One tragic real-life example is the Aluu Four case, involving four university students who were falsely accused of stealing and brutally murdered by a mob in Omuokiri-Aluu, Rivers State, Nigeria, on October 5, 2012.
The incident involved four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT): Ugonna, Lloyd, Chiadika, and Tekena. They reportedly went to a community in Rivers State to collect money owed to them by a local resident. An argument erupted, and someone in the community allegedly shouted that the boys were thieves who had come to steal laptops and phones.
A large crowd quickly gathered. Without proper investigation, an angry mob, including members of a local vigilante group, stripped the students naked, beat them mercilessly, and paraded them through the community. Tyres were subsequently placed around their necks, petrol was poured on their bodies, and they were set ablaze and burned to death.
In the aftermath of the incident, several people involved in the mob violence were arrested. In July 2017, a Rivers State High Court sentenced three men, including a police sergeant, to death by hanging for their roles in the murders.
Did this bring back the lives of the four young men? No. Instead, the incident left behind a devastating and horrific legacy and attracted widespread condemnation across Nigeria.
The Rise of “Thieves’ Got Talent” and “Dance Justice”
Another form of jungle justice has emerged, involving the forced dancing of suspected thieves. Some people call it “Thieves’ Got Talent” or “Dance Justice.” This trend has gone viral across social media platforms, with some Nigerian communities adopting it as a form of punishment for suspected thieves.
Those caught allegedly stealing, as well as those suspected of theft, may have the stolen items tied around their waists or other parts of their bodies and be forced to dance, sing, rap, or even kiss one another.
In one viral video, a man allegedly caught with stolen window protectors from an uncompleted building was forced to sing and dance while being paraded, according to a commentator. The commentator criticised the act, saying, “This is not the appropriate way. You take them to the police station for the appropriate decision to be taken.” The commentator also argued that publicly mocking the suspects was wrong.
For some people, this is entertainment. For others, it is a violation of human rights. Some view the practice as evidence of corruption and ineffective law enforcement, while others see it as a warning to criminals.
In another widely circulated video, a man accused of stealing electrical cables was reportedly forced to twist the wire, wear it around his neck, and dance.
This may be seen as “cruise,” as Nigerians often say, but it is ridiculous and difficult to comprehend. Many people even join in the fun when a suspected thief dances, while others derive pleasure and excitement from the spectacle, commenting that the thief knows how to dance.
The new trend may appear to be a safer, softer, and more acceptable alternative to violent mob justice. However, it can also be viewed as a form of public humiliation and digital cyberbullying for the entertainment of a crowd.
According to a Lagos-based lawyer, Akanwa Theophilus, as quoted in The Guardian Nigeria, torturing, beating, and publicly humiliating a suspect are prohibited because the grundnorm provides that every citizen must be given a fair hearing before condemnation or punishment.
Jungle justice is illegal and may amount to assault, murder, or manslaughter, depending on the circumstances. It deprives individuals of their constitutional rights, including the right to life and the right to a fair hearing. Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria establishes the presumption of innocence, providing that a person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In The Guardian Nigeria, another Lagos-based lawyer, Stephen Azubuike, offered a different perspective on the phenomenon. According to him, the unlawful practice of jungle justice, which often ends in the extrajudicial killing of alleged criminals, has now been reduced to a dancing fiesta.
Poverty, Unemployment, and the Failure of Justice
Theft in society may be driven by poverty, unemployment, public frustration, and poor governance. However, forcing suspected thieves to dance does nothing to solve the problem of criminality.
“Thieves’ Got Talent” has no proven effect on preventing crime. Rather, the trend highlights growing public frustration with crime and the lack of trust in law enforcement.
Although forced dancing may seem less violent than beating or killing suspects, it does not replace lawful investigation, prosecution, and punishment. Suspected offenders deserve due process, and communities must resist the temptation to turn accusations of theft into public entertainment.
