NIGERIA When the man was caught stealing, a crowd of local residents immediately gathered around him and detained him. However, they never intended to hand him over to the police; instead, they punished him themselves – sentencing him to death. They stripped him naked and burned him alive.
Unfortunately, the phenomenon of street justice is still widespread in Nigeria, even though the government is actively trying to fight it. People feel that if they don’t punish the offender themselves, the criminal will never be held accountable. Unfortunately, this is often true due to a corrupt police force.
Violence, however, can never be justified. The above is merely an observation of their point of view. The fact remains that any thief or criminal has the right to at least a fair trial. Anyone participating in such lynchings often exposes themselves to greater legal consequences than the thief himself. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, always choose the path of official state justice.
