“Mob Justice Is Murder” -By Rinret Istifanus

The brutal killing of Ibrahim Mbaya at Ring Road in Jos should shake the conscience of every Nigerian. It was not an act of justice. It was murder carried out by a crowd that chose violence over the rule of law. While many may have believed they were punishing a criminal, they failed to realize that in taking a human life without due process, they crossed the line from spectators to alleged offenders themselves.

Mob justice is one of the greatest threats to the rule of law in Nigeria. It is driven by anger, rumours, and impatience rather than facts and evidence. In a matter of minutes, a crowd becomes the accuser, the judge, and the executioner. There is no investigation, no fair hearing, and no opportunity for the truth to emerge.

The tragic death of Ibrahim Mbaya is a painful reminder of the consequences of allowing emotions to override the law. The arrest of suspects in connection with his killing should serve as a wake-up call, especially to young people. Many who join a mob believe they are helping to fight crime, but they often end up exposing themselves to criminal prosecution. A person who participates in the unlawful killing of another may also be held accountable under the law.

This is why mob justice can never be defended. It destroys lives, leaves families in grief, and undermines the justice system. It also creates the risk that innocent people will be killed because of false accusations, mistaken identity, or rumours. Once a life is taken, there is no way to undo that tragedy.

Stealing and other crimes should never be ignored, but neither should they be answered with unlawful violence. When a suspect is caught, the proper course of action is to hand the person over to the police and allow the courts to determine guilt or innocence. Justice is served through lawful investigation, fair trial, and evidence, not through beatings, stoning, or lynching.

Young people, in particular, must resist the temptation to join angry crowds. Real courage is not found in violence. It is found in protecting life, respecting the law, and refusing to become part of a crime.

The death of Ibrahim Mbaya must not become another forgotten tragedy. It should awaken our conscience and remind us that no accusation, no matter how serious, gives anyone the right to take another person’s life. Today, Ibrahim is gone. Tomorrow, it could be anyone falsely accused.

Mob justice is not justice. It is murder.

If we truly want a safer Nigeria, we must reject the rule of the mob, respect the rule of law, and remember that when we kill in the name of justice, we destroy justice itself.