NIGERIA Local residents sentenced an alleged thief to death according to the laws of the street. They killed him in what is quite possibly the worst method – necklacing. This involves placing a tire around the victim’s neck and setting it on fire. In this case, they put on an already burning tire. The victim burns alive in horrific pain.
The phenomenon of street justice is still widespread in Nigeria and deeply rooted among the people, especially in poorer and rural areas. From their point of view, it is the only way to punish a thief. They have complete distrust in the police and the state judiciary – often for valid reasons. Whenever it involves a bigger theft, it’s not uncommon for thieves to be lynched to death. If someone tries to steal what is often their only possession, something they depend on for basic survival, they see it almost as an attempted murder.
But their point of view must never justify violence. Lynching a thief is a gross violation of human rights. Moreover, there is no such thing as a fair trial beforehand, and innocent people often die unnecessarily. Nigeria is trying to fight this, but unfortunately it’s a long struggle that involves rebuilding trust in the justice system, reducing corruption, and improving education.
