At least 23 people have lost their lives to brutal mob attacks in various parts of Nigeria recently, Amnesty International Nigeria disclosed today, condemning the surge as a dangerous symptom of failing law enforcement and impunity.
The human rights group highlighted victims accused of blasphemy, theft, witchcraft, or other offenses without any trial or evidence.
Mobs often beat, burn, or torture individuals to death in public spaces such as markets, motor parks, and roadsides.
Amnesty documented these 23 confirmed killings as part of a broader, alarming trend.
Over the past decade, the organization has recorded at least 155 cases of mob violence, building on its earlier October 2024 report “Instantly Killed!” which detailed 555 victims from 363 incidents between 2012 and 2023.
In that period alone, 57 people died from mob actions, including 32 burnt alive, two buried alive, and 23 tortured to death.
“These extrajudicial killings remain unacceptable and reflect a shocking breakdown in state protection,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
“When police and courts fail to deliver swift justice, citizens take the law into their own hands, creating a cycle of violence that erodes the rule of law.”
The latest figures emerged amid ongoing concerns over jungle justice, particularly in regions where religious accusations fuel attacks.
Northern areas frequently see blasphemy claims trigger lethal mob responses, sometimes encouraged by local clerics.
Meanwhile, petty crimes like phone theft continue to spark deadly reprisals nationwide.
Amnesty urged the federal government to act decisively: strengthen police presence, ensure prompt investigations, prosecute perpetrators, and launch public awareness campaigns against vigilante actions.
Without firm intervention, the group warned, mob violence will continue to claim innocent lives and deepen societal divisions.
This revelation follows persistent calls for reform, as experts link the problem to weak judicial systems, delayed justice, and eroded public trust in authorities.