A video showing a woman being assaulted and humiliated in a market in Port Harcourt has gone viral, sparking outrage over jungle justice and the treatment of alleged petty theft offenders.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media this week, shows a woman surrounded by a crowd in what appears to be a market area. She was accused of stealing unripe plantain from a trader’s stall. In the video, the woman is stripped of her clothes, beaten, and forced to bite and chew the unripe plantain as onlookers jeer and record with mobile phones.
The exact location within Port Harcourt and the date of the incident have not been confirmed by authorities. The Rivers State Police Command has not released an official statement on the matter, and it is unclear if a formal complaint was lodged.
Human rights groups and legal experts have condemned the act, describing it as unlawful and a violation of the woman’s dignity and personal safety. Under Nigerian law, assault, unlawful restraint, and public humiliation are criminal offenses regardless of whether the accused person is guilty of theft.
“Taking the law into your hands does not make you a victim. It makes you a suspect,” said a Port Harcourt-based lawyer. “The correct procedure is to hand over any suspected offender to the police for investigation and prosecution.”
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015, which applies in Rivers State, specifically prohibits degrading treatment and violence against persons. Offenders can face fines and imprisonment if convicted.
The incident has renewed calls for market associations and community leaders to establish proper reporting channels and work with law enforcement. Traders often cite slow police response and repeated theft as reasons for resorting to mob action, but advocates argue that mob justice only deepens insecurity and erodes trust in the legal system.
Child and women’s rights organizations have also urged the public to stop sharing the viral video further, noting that its circulation violates the victim’s privacy and could constitute an offense under the Cybercrimes Act….See More
