Nationwide Hypocrisy Over Jungle Justice Exposed As Nigerians Confront Selective Outrage And Deepening Regional Divisions

 

A fiery debate over regional hypocrisy has resurfaced after a northern commentator criticized what he described as the South’s selective moral outrage regarding jungle justice. His argument highlights a troubling reality that mob killings have become entrenched across Nigeria, regardless of geography, faith, or political leaning.

A growing number of public commentators agree that the country’s social fabric continues to weaken due to insecurity, socio economic failure, and widespread mistrust in state institutions. For many Nigerians, the collapse of law enforcement efficiency fuels quick resort to mob action. Yet, while every region grapples with this menace, conversations about responsibility often tilt toward accusation rather than introspection.

A recurring example cited by many southerners is the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, which instantly became a national flashpoint. The northern writer reiterated his long standing stance that the young woman should never have been killed, stressing that no mob has the right to take the law into its hands. He argued, however, that southerners tend to weaponize this case while refusing to acknowledge their own extensive record of mob violence.

A long list of incidents involving victims from the North was referenced to remind Nigerians that jungle justice cuts across states and ethnic identities. Among them were the killings of Harira Jubril and her four daughters in Anambra in 2022, the burning of sixteen northerners in Uromi, Edo State, in 2025, the Sasa market violence of 2021 in Ibadan, and the targeted shootings of northern traders in Orlu and Umuaka the same year. These events, he noted, rarely spark the same volume of public outrage from the South.

A similar spotlight was cast on the historical violence linked to the Oodua People’s Congress in Lagos. Reports from human rights observers over the years documented incidents of beheadings, arson, torture, and ethnic attacks across several communities. Hundreds of victims, including civilians and security personnel, were caught in the wave of OPC related clashes. Yet, these memories seldom feature in today’s southern commentary about northern insecurity.

A significant portion of his critique focused on the inconsistency of condemnation. He argued that violence committed by northerners is often treated as cultural or religious barbarism by some southerners, while southern acts of mob justice are framed as isolated incidents unrelated to culture or belief. This, he insisted, distorts the national discourse and prevents honest evaluation of Nigeria’s shared problems.

A deeper message underlined his argument. Jungle justice remains a Nigerian crisis because citizens no longer trust the justice system to act swiftly or fairly. When institutions collapse, mobs emerge. When mobs take over, no one is safe, regardless of tribe or religion. Until Nigerians shed selective outrage and confront the rot collectively, the cycle of violence is bound to continue unchecked.

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