Alexx Ekubo: The crime of jungle justice is also punishable by death

Nigerian actor and model, the first runner up at the 2010 Mr Nigeria contest, Alex Ekubo-Okwaraeke, popularly known as Alexx Ekubo, took to his Instagram page to warn against jungle justice.

Alexx shared a video on May 18, 2022 via his Verified Instagram page where the wife of David Umoh (a sound engineer who was lynched by an angry mob) can be seen sadly and tearfully narrating the events that unfolded after her husbands death.

The video follows a lengthy caption where Alexx bemoaned the rate at which people ae quick to resort to violence, and even murder.

He likened the barbaric behaviour to a human being changing to a werewolf. The model also listed the case of Deborah, a student in a higher institution in Sokoto, where she was murdered by a religious mob, noting that anyone can fall victim of jungle justice, so it must stop.

The caption of his post reads “I woke up this morning with so much pain in my heart, Nigeria how did we get here, there is so much anger & frustration in the land. Almost everyone is 2 secs away from turning into a werewolf.

Pls I am begging, this #JungleJustice trend needs to stop. Today is Deborah & David, tomorrow it can be me, you or someone close to home, take a minute & think about it.

Like how are you going about your business, & suddenly you stop to mob, lynch & set another human being ablaze, in the public glare of everyone, you need to be evaluated in a mental institution, arrested & locked away PERMANENTLY, you are a menace to society & not fit to coexist.

Who died & made you judge, jury & executor.”

In addition to expressing his displeasure, Alexx also quoted laws that are against murder, either by a person or by a mob, and he stated the consequence of those brutal murders too.

“Section 33(1) of the Nigerian constitution provides that “every person has right to life & no one should be deprived intentionally of his life”

Also, Section 319 of the criminal code clearly stipulates that when a group of persons take laws into their hands by assaulting or summarily executing a suspected criminal, they are guilty of the offense of assault punishable by 1 year imprisonment, or murder which is punishable by death.

More often than not, innocent people are the victims of jungle justice. We are still trying to find #JusticeForDeborah now we also seeking #JusticeForDavid, we can’t keep loosing Nigeria youth to senseless killings.

Lawmakers needs to put in place & enforce stringent laws to abolish jungle justice, it’s barbaric, inhumane & uncivilized.

May God comfort the families/friends of the deceased in ways that only him can.” he wrote.