Jungle Justice

Lanre paid for the yam, potatoes and chicken she got and then turned to leave. She approached her car about to get in when someone snatched her purse. It was as though the person who did it was flash that has been born into reality. He had run away and was out of sight before she could even shout “thief” and call for help. But still Tega who had seen what happened got down and went after the thief. Lanre kept shouting for him to come back telling him that it was okay and that he should come back so he does not end up getting hurt.

Tega did not hid to Lanre’s words. He went after the thief. Lanre was between going after them and staying with the car since she was not sure Tega locked it. And who knows if she leaves, someone might come steal the car as well.

She was surprised when Tega came back pulling a young man along with him. When they got to where she was, she doubts the young man was even up to twenty years of age. Tega asked him to apologise. Meanwhile people who had seen the young man steal Lanre’s purse seeing that he has been caught were full of agitation and ran towards them ready to pounce on the young man. On noticing this, Lanre asked Tega to put the young man in the car.

“Madam bring am come make we beat am. That boy na big thief! (Madam, hand him over to us so we can beat him. He is a notorious thief)”. One of the men who had run towards them said to Lanre. Lanre asked them if it was them the young man stole from.

“Make una no worry, I go carry am go give police”. Lanre said to them assuring them she would take care of the situation by handing the boy over to the police. They told her that the police will not help matters. They wanted to use the boy to set example in the society to that boys will refrain from stealing. Lanre mocked laugh.

“Is it because you were not the one caught stealing? What example do you want to sight? You that will kill him and him who stole, who is worst? You want to kill him in the name of jungle justice because he stole and you saw him. Most of you here has stolen more than this young man”. Lanre said. This was one thing she hated most in her society. Once a person is caught stealing or accused of stealing, they beat him up and set him or her ablaze. They call it “jungle justice”, she called it “cruelty”. Most of those who partake in carrying out such cruelty and criminals as well. And they are satisfied killing someone because he stole what is not worth his finger. She frowned at them and warned that if anyone of them gets close to her car, she would make sure the person rots in jail.