Jungle Justice has become a form of extrajudicial punishment that is alarmingly prevalent in Nigeria and now appears to be permeating educational institutions. MOYOSORE SALAMI writes on the safety and effectiveness of disciplinary measures.

On a Friday night, May 25, 2024, a 200 level mechanical engineering student, Akor Alex, was accused of stealing a mobile phone, instead of reporting the incident to university authorities, his peers decided to take matters into their own hands.

The brutal beating, recorded in short video clips, showed Alex being mercilessly assaulted with a cane, leading to his death the next morning, May 26, 2024.

Similarly, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) expelled two students involved in a widely circulated bullying incident.

The viral video showed a group of female students bullying another student. Specifically, Opemiposi Precious Bolaji, an 18-year-old mass communication student, was seen assaulting Miss Gloria Ajayi, another mass communication student, in a private hostel off-campus.

The university’s management decided to expel two of the five students identified as bullies in the viral video, while two others were exonerated and one received a warning.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Veronica Makinde, said no amount of parental pressure could influence the institution’s decision.

Following the video’s emergence, the university’s spokesperson, Temitope Akinbisoye, stated that all students involved were summoned and appropriately punished for their actions.

“In accordance with our institution’s policies and regulations, the students captured in the viral video appeared before the Students’ Disciplinary Committee at its emergency meeting held on Monday, May 6, 2024. The committee conducted interrogations and made appropriate recommendations, which have been submitted to the university authorities.”

To say the ongoing issue of bullying has become a serious concern in the country is an understatement. It has become a ticking time bomb owing to both governments’ and the institutions’ failure to enforce policies that protect students’ rights.

It is unfortunate that the incident is not an isolated one. Jungle justice has become a pervasive problem on a Nigerian campus with many students experiencing physical, verbal and psychological abuse.

Report revealed that over 70 per cent of students have experienced bullying, with 40 per cent reporting severe bullying.
The Guardian learnt that many universities lack robust mechanics for conflict resolution and when students do not have clear, accessible channels to report grievances they may resort to more immediate, albeit violent solutions.

Through concerted efforts and cooperation from all stakeholders, it is believed that the education system can regain the trust of students and parents, ensuring a holistic development of future generations.
Education experts also told The Guardian that universities need to maintain discipline and order of students adequately and educate them on the proper channels to address grievances and report crimes.

According to them, the prolonged occurrence of bullying without intervention shows a system failure in management, where measures to prevent such incidents should have been integral from the outset.

They pointed out that supervision becomes ineffective when there is insufficient number of personnel to enforce it, noting the need for collaboration between relevant personnel to monitor student’s activities.

They said the standard practices in schools are to maintain a presence among the students and actively monitor their behaviour. However, in this incident, it is evident that this protocol was not adhered to, as there was no one to monitor the area where the victim was subjected to torture.

Furthermore, effective management of students requires building strong rapport and relationships with them particularly through reliable student assistants who can report harmful activities.

Experts and concerned citizens, who frowned at the students’ bullying effect on the education system, especially the recent jungle justice in Oyo state, noted that such brutality can create a climate of fear and anxiety, which is detrimental to the educational environment.

Schools are recognised as institutions responsible for transferring knowledge, fostering personal growth and enabling students to contribute meaning to society through research, innovation, and civic engagement. The school is also expected to be a place where students should feel safe and secure and where they can count on being treated with respect and care.

An Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Baze University, Abuja, Dr Dennis Uba, explained that individuals who have experienced violence, stress, economic hardship or personal trauma are more prone to engage in mob violence.

Uba pointed out that students who feel neglected or are exposed to poor environmental conditions and limited opportunities may resort to violence to express their grievances.

“People with personality deficits, anxiety, or other vices tend to participate in group violence. This behavior is often not motivated by personal interest but by a sense of group solidarity.

“When violence is directed at an individual or group, students often join in as a means of solidarity, even without understanding the cause. This is a manifestation of group behavior, where actions are driven by the collective rather than individual motives.

“These students may not necessarily support the initial cause of the violence but use it as a platform to voice their frustrations.”

He said the most effective method to address violence among youth is the implementation of school wide anti-bullying campaigns.

The psychologist said many bullies are unaware of the damage they cause, and advised university management to work closely with the Nigerian Police Force and Civil Defence.

He noted that some instances of bullying go unpunished due to relationships between staff and students, and recommended that universities treat all cases of bullying seriously and impartially.

“These efforts help raise awareness about the consequences of bullying, encourage empathy, and foster a safer environment.
“These security operatives are trained to handle violence before it escalates. When students understand that violent acts are not just school problems, but also legal issues, it creates a deterrent effect.

“Students who engage in bullying often come from backgrounds with poor parenting or single-parent homes, where there is a lack of supervision and guidance. Schools and parents must work together to ensure students understand the severe consequences of their actions.

“An average parent should have the contact information of their child’s Head of Department or level adviser. This constant communication can help monitor and correct student behaviour.

“Bullying is an opportunistic behavior. If it goes unpunished, it will only continue to escalate.

“Effective intervention and a strong stance against bullying can help restore trust and safety within educational institutions.”
A legal practitioner, Oluwatobi Fatoki, condemned the act of jungle justice labeling it ‘inhumane’.

He said it is the obligation of institutions and stakeholders to foster a safe and good environment for students, noting that jungle justice often stems from underlying issues such as drug abuse, alcoholism, bullying which must be addressed.

Fatoki added that there is a need for a fear of authority among students and adherence to constitutional rights, particularly the right to life guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution in Nigeria.

He said: “The school management also has a lot to do to ensure sanity back to the institution. Jungle justice does not just take place in campus settings without some preexisting vices such as drug/substance abuse, alcoholism, bullying and the likes which ought to have been earlier noticed but mostly could have been swept under the carpet.

“It also sadly shows the kind of youths being raised now. Some are well raised while some aren’t. We now have students that barely have the fear of the school authorities at heart.

“While condemning the act of jungle justice perpetrated by the co-students of the deceased, it is paramount to say that Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees our right to life and as such no life ought to have been deprived in such a barbaric manner. The legal maxim ‘nemo judex in causa sua’ to wit; ‘no one is a judge in their own case’ comes to mind.”

He asserted that there is no notion that being a student grants special immunity from the law.
Fatoki said that the applicability of Occupiers Liability does not even avail for jungle justice.

“Does being a student create a special status or immunity from other persons being governed by law?

“An institution aside from making the environment conducive for learning also has the duties and responsibilities of raising students appropriately and also ensuring their good behaviour. It is also the duties and responsibilities of parents too.

“Youths now mostly abuse drugs and parents now at times frown at schools that tend to take disciplinary measures against their child or that report their bad conducts. It is a collective measure in making the society saner.

“All institutions have their students’ handbook, rules and regulations, which most also conform with the extant laws.

“Institutions and critical stakeholders must ensure compliance with the institutional rules both academically and morally without fear or favour. With such no person’s right will be at stake.”

On his part, a Lawyer, Tobi Onafuwa condemned the recent incident of jungle justice perpetrated by university students, calling it “disheartening and barbaric.”
He said: “It is very sad and demoralising that university students, who should be presumed to be knowledgeable and exposed, can engage in jungle justice, let alone take the law into their own hands.

“The acts of the culprits run foul of the constitution and natural human decency.”
Onafuwa emphasised that the Constitution, which serves as the nation’s grundnum, clearly outlines the rights of individuals alleged to have committed crimes. “These laws are sacrosanct to achieve a sane and working society that we all aspire ours to be.”

Onafuwa pointed out that universities have established mechanisms to address issues ranging from student disagreements to criminal allegations and can escalate matters to law enforcement agencies when necessary.
He called for a thorough investigation into the tragic incident to ensure justice is served.

Onafuwa also stressed the need for public sensitisation about the dangers of taking the law into one’s hands.

“This incident should be properly addressed, and proper investigations should be conducted to achieve justice, Justice should serve dual purposes to act as a deterrent to others who are unaware of the repercussions of jungle justice.”

“A thorough sensitisation of both formal and informal spaces is pertinent to inform the public about the dangers of jungle justice,” he said.

He urged stakeholders in the criminal justice system to maintain its efficiency and effectiveness adding that the recurrent cases of jungle justice are often a result of the lack of faith in the criminal justice system.

A parent, Mr Oyeyinka, expressed concern over the recent incidents of violence in schools, noting urgent need for improved safety measures.

He emphasised the heightened danger faced by students, and expressed his ability to comprehend such brutality.
Oyeyinka noted that the trust parents place in schools to provide a secure environment for their children.

“With the present situation on the ground, anything can happen to any student. This has brought another dimension to what is going on in the school. The campus is no longer safe because of these accusations.

“It is a gory sight. I cannot fathom it for someone to nurture one’s child to this stage and then someone kills the child. It is barbaric.

“No parent will fathom this happening because we send our children to school hoping for a bright future for them.

“The security in school premises is vulnerable. Where is their house master or mistress? Is the school inculcating the fear of God in their minds?”

Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham expressed concern over the recent incidents involving disrespectful behaviors from hound individuals, urging parents and guardians to prioritise instilling values of respect and kindness on the younger generations.

Abraham emphasised the role of parenting in shaping children’s characters. She said: “Recent online encounters and observations compel me to share this heartfelt message with every parent and guardian. The quality of children we are raising today needs serious attention.

She lamented the rise of a concerning trend where children view respect and courtesy as burdens. “We now have kids who see respect and courtesy as burdens. How do we feel reading some of the things the youth say to adults online under the guise of being ‘woke’ or adopting a ‘no tolerance’ attitude?” she questioned.

Drawing from personal experiences, the actress acknowledged a stark contrast between the upbringing she received and the way children are being raised today.

“Many of us were not raised the way we are raising our kids today. We are raising them with kid gloves because we believe times have changed. However, different times are not an excuse to raise disrespectful children.”

Abraham emphasised the importance of instilling respect and gratitude, even towards one’s parents. “Despite our age and blessings, there are still things we would not tell our parents, not out of fear, but out of respect,” she remarked.

Citing the recent tragic incident at Ajayi Crowther University, where a student was killed in an act of mob justice, Abraham noted the severe consequences of a lack of moral values and home training.

“The recent tragic event at Ajayi Crowther University, where students killed a fellow student in the name of jungle justice, highlights the severe consequences of a lack of home training and moral values. Even if theft occurred, it does not justify taking another person’s life,” she said.

Abraham acknowledged the challenges of disciplining children but emphasised the long-term benefits of instilling values like respect, courtesy, responsibility, kindness, and hard work.

“Respect, courtesy, responsibility, kindness, and hard work are values we were raised with. Although we may not have liked the discipline at the time, we are grateful to our parents today for instilling these values in us,” she stated.

The actress further emphasised the responsibility of parents in nation-building by raising quality individuals for the next generation.