Nigeria is turning to its creative industry to drive economic growth and job creation. The sector already contributes $5.6 billion to the country's GDP.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Video - Nigeria taps creative industry to boost economic growth
Nigeria is turning to its creative industry to drive economic growth and job creation. The sector already contributes $5.6 billion to the country's GDP.
Video - Boko Haram attacks on military formations concern Nigerian authorities
Boko Haram launched a wave of attacks on military bases in Nigeria's Borno State. Governor Babagana Zulum responded with a call for aggressive military action, warning the group may be regrouping and retaking territory. Officials said the renewed violence could derail efforts to resettle displaced residents.
Video - Nigerian exporters brace for impact as U.S. tariff pause sparks urgency
While the temporary suspension of 14 percent U.S. tariffs offered brief relief, experts warned Nigeria must act fast to negotiate a long-term solution with U.S. President Donald Trump or risk deeper economic fallout and declining investor confidence.
How Nigeria can stop rising 'jungle justice'
A stolen phone, a whispered accusation, and slowly, a crowd gathers. In minutes, the charges are read out to the suspect and "justice" is administered — not in a courtroom, but on the street.
Mob justice, often called "jungle justice" in Nigeria, is the act of a crowd taking the law into their own hands by punishing suspected criminals without giving them the right to defend themselves via judicial procedures.
Over the past decade, such violence in Nigeria has surged, fueled by distrust in law enforcement, economic hardship, and the rapid spread of misinformation.
"It's [mob justice] been a long time with us," said Frank Tietie, a Nigerian legal expert and Executive Director of Citizens for Social Economic Rights in Abuja.
"Where law enforcement agents are seen to be restricted only to capital cities or the various states or in the nation's capital, people tend to have a sense that the government is far away and they can do whatever they like," he said.
Josephine Mahachi, DW
Mob justice, often called "jungle justice" in Nigeria, is the act of a crowd taking the law into their own hands by punishing suspected criminals without giving them the right to defend themselves via judicial procedures.
Over the past decade, such violence in Nigeria has surged, fueled by distrust in law enforcement, economic hardship, and the rapid spread of misinformation.
"It's [mob justice] been a long time with us," said Frank Tietie, a Nigerian legal expert and Executive Director of Citizens for Social Economic Rights in Abuja.
"Where law enforcement agents are seen to be restricted only to capital cities or the various states or in the nation's capital, people tend to have a sense that the government is far away and they can do whatever they like," he said.
A case of mistaken identity
Recently, 16 hunters traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano were lynched in Edo State on mere suspicion of being bandits and kidnappers.
According to local reports, the victims were traveling back to their home in Kano after attending Muslim Eid al-Adha celebrations when local vigilantes stopped the vehicle they were in.
Upon searching, the vigilante members found homemade Dane guns used by the hunters. The discovery quickly attracted a crowd who concluded the travelers were criminals and burned them alive.
Their gruesome deaths have reignited debates on lawlessness, justice, and the failure of policing in Africa's most populous nation.
President Bola Tinubu and human rights groups condemned the incident, and Tinubu vowed to pursue those who perpetrated the act and bring them to justice.
Nigeria's constitution stipulates that under no circumstances should the life of any Nigerian be taken except in accordance with the provisions of the law, with the pronouncement of the judgment of a court.
Recently, 16 hunters traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano were lynched in Edo State on mere suspicion of being bandits and kidnappers.
According to local reports, the victims were traveling back to their home in Kano after attending Muslim Eid al-Adha celebrations when local vigilantes stopped the vehicle they were in.
Upon searching, the vigilante members found homemade Dane guns used by the hunters. The discovery quickly attracted a crowd who concluded the travelers were criminals and burned them alive.
Their gruesome deaths have reignited debates on lawlessness, justice, and the failure of policing in Africa's most populous nation.
President Bola Tinubu and human rights groups condemned the incident, and Tinubu vowed to pursue those who perpetrated the act and bring them to justice.
Nigeria's constitution stipulates that under no circumstances should the life of any Nigerian be taken except in accordance with the provisions of the law, with the pronouncement of the judgment of a court.
Common scenarios that lead to vigilantism
Apart from petty theft, such as pickpocketing, stealing mobile phones, bicycles, or motorcycles, suspicions of witchcraft or child theft can lead to mob justice.
However, cases of false accusations, mainly driven by personal vendettas, such as business competition, have also been documented by Amnesty International.
As Nigeria is a deeply religious country with dozens of ethnic communities, tensions can easily trigger mob actions, particularly during periods of unrest or crisis.
"There are instances even in police stations the case will reach there, and you find people round the police station, they want to get the culprit out and set him ablaze," Ben Shemang, DW correspondent in Abuja, said.
Over the past decade, Amnesty International has documented at least 555 victims of mob violence in Nigeria.
How Nigeria can curb 'jungle justice'
To reverse the trend and end the vice, experts say the Nigerian government needs to intervene by increasing public awareness campaigns against mob violence.
There is also an urgent need for police reforms and human rights training.
"We should put more pressure on the national assembly to decentralize the police system," Frank Tietie said, adding that the federal-controlled police have become incompetent and corrupt.
"The hope is that when we have a decentralized police system, where various states and local governments can organize proper police for us, then we may have less issues of jungle justice and extra judicial killings as we had in Edo State," he said.
Additionally, there needs to be increased advocacy for justice reforms and promotion of peaceful conflict resolution, and most importantly, local communities and security agencies must emphasize collaboration to build mutual trust and responsiveness.
Apart from petty theft, such as pickpocketing, stealing mobile phones, bicycles, or motorcycles, suspicions of witchcraft or child theft can lead to mob justice.
However, cases of false accusations, mainly driven by personal vendettas, such as business competition, have also been documented by Amnesty International.
As Nigeria is a deeply religious country with dozens of ethnic communities, tensions can easily trigger mob actions, particularly during periods of unrest or crisis.
"There are instances even in police stations the case will reach there, and you find people round the police station, they want to get the culprit out and set him ablaze," Ben Shemang, DW correspondent in Abuja, said.
Over the past decade, Amnesty International has documented at least 555 victims of mob violence in Nigeria.
How Nigeria can curb 'jungle justice'
To reverse the trend and end the vice, experts say the Nigerian government needs to intervene by increasing public awareness campaigns against mob violence.
There is also an urgent need for police reforms and human rights training.
"We should put more pressure on the national assembly to decentralize the police system," Frank Tietie said, adding that the federal-controlled police have become incompetent and corrupt.
"The hope is that when we have a decentralized police system, where various states and local governments can organize proper police for us, then we may have less issues of jungle justice and extra judicial killings as we had in Edo State," he said.
Additionally, there needs to be increased advocacy for justice reforms and promotion of peaceful conflict resolution, and most importantly, local communities and security agencies must emphasize collaboration to build mutual trust and responsiveness.
Nigeria's Malaria Hot-Spot Identified
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is reported to have the highest malaria burden in the world, accounting for 39.3% of global malaria deaths in children under five years in 2023.
According to recent reporting by GAVI, while the country’s annual malaria death toll has declined over the past five years, the case count has risen, with 1.4 million more malaria infections reported in 2023 than in 2022.
Bordering both Benin and Niger in Nigeria’s northwest, the Kebbi state has the highest malaria prevalence in the country at 49% of young children and the highest mortality rate.
The state’s high malaria prevalence has been linked to several factors, including rice cultivation.
Since rice farming requires stagnant water, it is a perfect breeding ground for virus-carrying mosquitoes.
Ahmad Muhammad Sani, a public health expert in Kebbi State, told GAVI on April 7, 2025, that he believes the malaria vaccine will help significantly lower malaria morbidity and mortality, especially when combined with existing preventive measures like the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor insecticide spraying.
Sani also encouraged parents to complete the four vaccine doses to protect children against malaria outbreaks.
“Some possible challenges relating to the vaccine effectiveness in this region include factors like high malaria transmission rates. Hence, full vaccination coverage is crucial. Parents should be aware that incomplete vaccine doses offer partial protection,” he said.
As of April 14, 2025, most malaria cases in the United States are travel-related. Two malaria vaccines are offered in Africa but are unavailable in the U.S.
According to recent reporting by GAVI, while the country’s annual malaria death toll has declined over the past five years, the case count has risen, with 1.4 million more malaria infections reported in 2023 than in 2022.
Bordering both Benin and Niger in Nigeria’s northwest, the Kebbi state has the highest malaria prevalence in the country at 49% of young children and the highest mortality rate.
The state’s high malaria prevalence has been linked to several factors, including rice cultivation.
Since rice farming requires stagnant water, it is a perfect breeding ground for virus-carrying mosquitoes.
Ahmad Muhammad Sani, a public health expert in Kebbi State, told GAVI on April 7, 2025, that he believes the malaria vaccine will help significantly lower malaria morbidity and mortality, especially when combined with existing preventive measures like the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor insecticide spraying.
Sani also encouraged parents to complete the four vaccine doses to protect children against malaria outbreaks.
“Some possible challenges relating to the vaccine effectiveness in this region include factors like high malaria transmission rates. Hence, full vaccination coverage is crucial. Parents should be aware that incomplete vaccine doses offer partial protection,” he said.
As of April 14, 2025, most malaria cases in the United States are travel-related. Two malaria vaccines are offered in Africa but are unavailable in the U.S.
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