Plateau’s Descent: From ‘Home of Hospitality’ to Hotbed of Jungle Justice

For years, Plateau State was celebrated as the “Home of Hospitality,” known for peace and tolerance. But that image has been eroded by a rising wave of jungle justice, where mobs take the law into their hands, killing or brutalizing suspects without trial.

Once unthinkable in Plateau, incidents of lynching, burning, and public beatings have now become disturbingly common. Instead of reporting alleged crimes to security agencies, irate mobs now act as judges and executioners, leaving behind grief and destruction.

In 2022, a young man accused of theft in Eto Baba, Jos, was beaten to death in public, despite pleas of innocence. A year later, in Tudun Wada, another mob killing occurred. By 2024, suspected cultists were lynched in Jenta Adamu before police intervention. Just weeks ago, a woman named CeCe narrowly escaped death after being falsely accused of stealing a man’s manhood.

The latest tragedy struck on April 27, 2025, when Davou Boyi, a physically challenged man from Vom in Jos South LGA, became a victim of mob fury. That Sunday, three children wandered into his parked car during church service. Two suffocated to death, while one survived.

Davou, unaware of their presence, reported the grim discovery to neighbours, vigilantes, and police. But rumours quickly spread, branding him a ritual killer. Before long, a mob attacked him.

“They hit me from behind, beat me mercilessly, threw tyres on me, ready to set me ablaze,” Davou recounted.

He was rescued by police from Kaduna Vom Division, but the violence escalated. His home, worth over ₦50 million, was looted and set ablaze. The mob then turned on his elder sister, Laraba Gyang, a mother of five and civil servant nearing retirement, who came to inquire about her brother’s ordeal. She was beaten, dragged, and burnt alive.

“It was wickedness,” lamented Pastor Ovey Abene, who described Davou as a peace-loving man. “Those responsible must be punished.”

Legal experts and rights advocates have condemned the killings. “Mob action is criminal and dangerous. In a civilized society, suspects should be handed over to the police. Such behaviour can incite ethno-religious violence,” warned Leah Hassan, Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jos branch.

Amnesty International’s Nigeria representative, Sanusi Isa, also urged authorities to ensure justice, stressing that such cases must not be swept under the carpet.

From Eto Baba to Tudun Wada, Jenta Adamu to Vom, Plateau’s reputation is now marred by repeated mob killings that trample justice and undermine the rule of law. Jungle justice, critics argue, is nothing short of barbarism, not community protection.

The brutal killing of Laraba Gyang and the destruction of Davou Boyi’s life are reminders of a dangerous culture spiraling out of control. Plateau State must act decisively—prosecuting perpetrators, educating communities, and reaffirming that no one is above the law.

If ignored, Davou’s case will become another tragic statistic. But if justice is served, it could mark the turning point that finally ends mob killings in Plateau. Society, many say, owes it to Davou, Laraba, and countless past victims to break this cycle once and for all.

Opinion Nigeria News