Global Youth Parliament (GYP), an international youth focused non-governmental organization, condemns in the strongest of terms, the barbaric act of stripping a woman off her clothes in a video making the rounds. The victim was alleged to have stolen some commodities recently, and was greeted with a harsh maltreatment. While we do not support or encourage stealing of any kind, we also do not support or encourage jungle justice or taking laws into one’s hands.
Similarly, we completely
denunciate the dastardly act perpetuated by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (fSARS) of the Nigerian police, on a young man a couple of days ago,
which regrettably took his life. Consequently, the social media have been
engulfed by calls seeking the dissolution of fSARS. It leaves nothing to be
desired, when those saddled with the responsibility of protecting life and
property become perpetuators of the very acts they were established to combat.
We therefore, vehemently condemn
these unscrupulous acts on the following grounds:
1. It
is unlawful – there is no law supporting jungle justice or punishment of
any alleged offender by just anybody outside the verdict of a competent court
of law.
2. It
is dehumanizing and unsocial – reducing an adult to a child and exposing
his or her nakedness, is culturally detestable and socially unacceptable. No
one has the right to take away the dignity or life of a fellow human being.
3. It
berates our sense or morality as Africans – Africans and particularly
Nigerians frown at indecent dressing, let alone forcing a woman to be naked in
public view. This goes to unveil how morally depraved many young people have
become in the 21st century. We must revise this trend and reposition
the youths for a more productive life and value to the society.
4. It
reveals the degree of lawless tendency ingrained in many people - This
could be a reflection of either a low level of civilization or outright
unwillingness to do what is right or lack of faith in the law enforcement
agencies. All these call for worries and must be squarely addressed as part of
efforts in nation building.
It is therefore pertinent to
reiterate that no alleged thief should be subjugated to dehumanizing conditions
or treatments, without the prescription of a judge of competent jurisdiction.
It is high time we began imbibing procedural approaches in dealing with one
another, regardless of social status and the weight of allegations. Every
victim of any allegation should be considered innocent until such a person is
legally pronounced guilty of the offence. We must begin the process of ensuring
maximum protection and preservation of human dignity as well as mutual respect.
We must learn to allow various agencies to perform their functions
independently, according to the constitutional provisions of the laws. It is
time we began to trust the judicial processes and allow the executives
discharge their duties uninterruptedly; and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
must be able to prove to the populace that it deserves the trust &
confidence of Nigerians in all its operations. Let’s put an end to taking laws
into our hands; as we make Nigeria thrive again on love, peace, and unity.
Finally, if you suspect or
apprehend a thief or common criminal, the appropriate thing to do is to hand
such an individual to the police and allow the laws to take its course. It is
not in the power of just anyone (including the fSARS or Nigeria police) to pass
judgement and execute punishment for any alleged crime. Let’s pursue
globalization, civilization, orderliness and make our society a better and
habitable place.
God bless the
Global Youth Parliament!
God bless the
federal republic of Nigeria!!
God bless
Africa!!!
©Aghedo, Ojore Godday
