You're touching on a very serious issue—one that deserves all the attention it can get. The first time I witnessed jungle justice was in university. Sadly, we heard that the victim later died. The last I heard of the perpetrators was that they were moved to a prison in the state.
I have many issues with jungle justice, but two top the list. First, we deny the accused their right to a fair hearing. Whatever the offense of the person might be, they deserve to be heard. They deserve a fair trial. However, that's easily snatched away from them.
Looking at it on a larger scale, it just shows how far into decadence we have descended as a collective. It's hypocrisy. It's a poor reflection of our moral judgment. We are quick to cry foul when the justice system overrides people's rights, but in our small worlds, we lead the team to beat and kill people without hearing them out.
Sadly, most of the time, it's the wrong
person. A false accusation. A mistaken identity.
Second, what happened to our humanity? How could anyone possibly be comfortable beating someone to the point of death? We have become so out of tune with empathy. Well, it's the country we found ourselves in. Dog eat dog. We hear that 200 people die in some part of the country, we simply shake our heads and continue scrolling.
Gradually, our humanness has eroded to the extent that we can beat someone to death, so long as the person isn't our family member. The irony is that, behind closed doors, we do way worse than them. We cheat, we steal, and we do things that are much worse. The person was just unlucky to have been caught.
I think the most painful story I've read about jungle justice was of someone who was beaten to death because they stole a loaf of bread (maybe that or something really petty, I can't remember the details now).
And don't even get me started on those who record and make content out of these despicable acts.
Man, I've splurged way too much already. We need more pieces on this out there.
The part about hypocrisy is so valid. We are so quick to judge others without looking inwards. I think for most people, it's a form of self-justification. Another person's sins are "bigger" than mine therefore I can be excused. It's only the person who is caught that is a thief.
Another sickening thing is that someone might even deliberately set another person up and everybody just runs with it. No questions asked.
The lack of empathy is quite disturbing. And for the people who stand by and make videos, I understand that there might not be anything that could be done to control the mob but actively making videos and posting them is just enabling the behaviour. If the video is not been recorded to provide some from of evidence, it's really not necessary. And the fact that people think to pull out their phones first before trying to find help or a solution is another story.
There's just so much wrong we've normalised and so much we need to heal from.
The first time I heard the term "jungle justice", I was in primary school and my thinking at the time was, Isn't that for beingswho live in the jungle... animals? People around must have laughed but really, jungle justice is an animalistic behavior. And many who're involved are criminals, themselves. They've just not been caught.
The truth of the matter is that most of the time these people are objects of transferred aggression. The real criminals that rob you through policies, reforms and just gross negligence are too far to suffer your wrath so you find the nearest person you can lay hold on to deceive yourself that you have a kind of power
You're touching on a very serious issue—one that deserves all the attention it can get. The first time I witnessed jungle justice was in university. Sadly, we heard that the victim later died. The last I heard of the perpetrators was that they were moved to a prison in the state.
I have many issues with jungle justice, but two top the list. First, we deny the accused their right to a fair hearing. Whatever the offense of the person might be, they deserve to be heard. They deserve a fair trial. However, that's easily snatched away from them.
Looking at it on a larger scale, it just shows how far into decadence we have descended as a collective. It's hypocrisy. It's a poor reflection of our moral judgment. We are quick to cry foul when the justice system overrides people's rights, but in our small worlds, we lead the team to beat and kill people without hearing them out.
Sadly, most of the time, it's the wrong
person. A false accusation. A mistaken identity.
Second, what happened to our humanity? How could anyone possibly be comfortable beating someone to the point of death? We have become so out of tune with empathy. Well, it's the country we found ourselves in. Dog eat dog. We hear that 200 people die in some part of the country, we simply shake our heads and continue scrolling.
Gradually, our humanness has eroded to the extent that we can beat someone to death, so long as the person isn't our family member. The irony is that, behind closed doors, we do way worse than them. We cheat, we steal, and we do things that are much worse. The person was just unlucky to have been caught.
I think the most painful story I've read about jungle justice was of someone who was beaten to death because they stole a loaf of bread (maybe that or something really petty, I can't remember the details now).
And don't even get me started on those who record and make content out of these despicable acts.
Man, I've splurged way too much already. We need more pieces on this out there.
Thank you for lending your voice, Tèmítópé ✨.
The part about hypocrisy is so valid. We are so quick to judge others without looking inwards. I think for most people, it's a form of self-justification. Another person's sins are "bigger" than mine therefore I can be excused. It's only the person who is caught that is a thief.
Another sickening thing is that someone might even deliberately set another person up and everybody just runs with it. No questions asked.
The lack of empathy is quite disturbing. And for the people who stand by and make videos, I understand that there might not be anything that could be done to control the mob but actively making videos and posting them is just enabling the behaviour. If the video is not been recorded to provide some from of evidence, it's really not necessary. And the fact that people think to pull out their phones first before trying to find help or a solution is another story.
There's just so much wrong we've normalised and so much we need to heal from.
Thank you for reading, Shedrach. ✨🤎
It was a pleasure to hear your thoughts.
The first time I heard the term "jungle justice", I was in primary school and my thinking at the time was, Isn't that for beingswho live in the jungle... animals? People around must have laughed but really, jungle justice is an animalistic behavior. And many who're involved are criminals, themselves. They've just not been caught.
Exactly. The name alone sounds like animalistic behaviour.
We are just breeding more criminals in the name of providing “justice.”
Even when death penalties are passed in the court if law... For things as serious as murder and rape, the morality is often debated still.
I will never understand why a thief - regardless of what he stole - deserves death in the eyes of some people.
Jungle justice is something that needs to be curbed.
Great article, Temitope.
We are so quick to judge people over the “little” things and then go quiet when we actually need to speak up.
Thank you for reading, Bolu. ✨🤎
This was an amazing read. Very reflective and thought-provoking.
I love the way you write.
You're too kind.
Thank you, Ayomide. ✨🤎
You're welcome. 🩷
Gosh — those questions you asked! 😭 They had me questioning my level of morality!
This is such a masterpiece! 🧡✨
Had me thinking about mine too. There are no easy answers to these questions though.
Thanks for reading. ✨🤎
The truth of the matter is that most of the time these people are objects of transferred aggression. The real criminals that rob you through policies, reforms and just gross negligence are too far to suffer your wrath so you find the nearest person you can lay hold on to deceive yourself that you have a kind of power
Exactly. The mob is angry and frustrated. They turn that anger on the nearest victim they find.
But its a viscous cycle. Death begets Death.
I think about it from time to time, about what I'm I would do or should do if I'm within considerable distance of a mob justice.
It pains me so much that we have to kill people over unverified allegations.
Omo. It's one of those things that you can't be sure of until you are in the situation itself.
It's just so sad that we keep losing people over those allegations. 💔