By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Amnesty International(AI) has called on the Nigerian authorities to adequate and effective measures in place to end mob violence and mob killings in the country.
AI also is demanding justice for victims of mob violence and killings in Nigeria so as to server as deterrence to future occurrence.
In a mail to The Daily Crucible on Tuesday by Samson Abobarin, Digital Campaigner Amnesty International Nigeria, he lamented that in Nigeria, mob violence has claimed hundreds of lives.
“in recent years. Our report Instantly Killed! How Law Enforcement Failures Exacerbate Nigeria’s Wave of Mob Violence shows the brutal reality. ‘Between January 2012 and August 2023, at least 555 people were victims of mob violence in 363 documented incidents.’
“Instead of fair trials, people, often accused without any evidence, are dragged from their homes, beaten, stoned, or burned alive,” he stated.
Abobarin, who is campaigning for solidarity and signed petition demanding that Nigerian authorities take real steps to end mob violence, protect lives, and bring perpetrators to justice, blamed police failures for the escalating cases of mob killings in the country.
He also noted that deep mistrust in the justice system, and unchecked rumours often meant perpetrators walked free while grieving families were left with no justice.
“No one is safe. Women, children, persons with disabilities and young people can all become targets. From petty theft to alleged blasphemy, mob violence spares no one. In the infamous Aluu Four case, four university students were lynched for alleged theft.
“In Bauchi, Talle Mai Ruwa, a man with a mental health condition, was burned alive after being accused of blasphemy.
“Mob violence is often sparked by rumours and false accusations. Nigeria has obligations under international and regional human rights laws to protect the right to life, dignity and prevent arbitrary killings, but it continues to fail its people,” he added.
