Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

A growing pattern of publicly humiliating suspected thieves is gaining traction across Nigeria, with viral videos showing alleged offenders subjected to degrading punishments instead of being handed over to law enforcement agencies.

Although similar incidents have been recorded in different parts of the country, the practice appears more prevalent in parts of the South-South, particularly Benin City in Edo State and Asaba in Delta State, where numerous videos of suspected thieves being publicly disgraced, assaulted or forced into humiliating acts have surfaced in recent months.

The trend, popularly described by many social media users as “99 days for the thief one day for the owner,” has sparked mixed reactions, with some Nigerians viewing the punishments as effective deterrents against theft, while others argue they amount to jungle justice and violate the rule of law.

One of the latest videos circulating online shows two young men accused of stealing a sack of fresh pepper being compelled to eat the raw pepper while drinking dry gin.

In the footage, the suspects are seen sitting beside the allegedly stolen pepper as spectators ordered them to consume the peppers, a scene that has generated widespread reactions across social media.

The exact location where the incident occurred has not been independently confirmed, although voices speaking Igbo could be heard in the background, while security agencies have yet to issue any official statement.

The pepper incident adds to a growing list of viral punishments inflicted on suspected thieves.

In another widely circulated video believed to have been recorded in Benin City, a young man accused of stealing electrical cables was forced to weave the recovered wires into a makeshift crown and wear it on his head.

To further humiliate him, members of the crowd reportedly made him rap while mocking him and recording the scene.

In a separate viral clip, a man accused of stealing cooking pots was allegedly compelled to dance, sing and twerk before an amused crowd as the recovered items were displayed around him.

Another video that gained attention online, reportedly from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), showed a man accused of stealing laptops being forced to dance before a cheering audience while being filmed.

Earlier this year, another viral recording showed two men allegedly beaten by an angry mob in Asaba, Delta State, after they were accused of theft, reflecting the increasing reliance on vigilante-style punishment. Authorities had not issued any official statement when the footage emerged.

Benin City has also witnessed several similar incidents where suspected thieves were stripped, paraded, beaten or compelled to perform degrading acts while crowds captured the scenes on video, highlighting the growing acceptance of public humiliation as a form of instant justice in parts of the South-South.

Reacting to the development, public affairs analyst and activist Simon Zion said the trend had become so widespread that suspected thieves were now expected to entertain spectators.

“If you don’t have any talent, please don’t steal in Nigeria at this time. If you’re caught and you can’t sing or dance, you’re on your own.

“It’s now a season of 99 days for the owner and one day for the thief,” he said.

The viral videos have continued to generate heated debate online, with supporters insisting that public humiliation discourages theft more effectively than the criminal justice system, while critics warn that the practice promotes lawlessness and could result in innocent people being punished.

Speaking on the issue, Abuja-based lawyer David Mike Agada condemned the trend, describing it as illegal.

According to him, anyone accused of committing an offence remains only a suspect until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

He stressed that members of the public have no legal authority to punish individuals accused of crimes, regardless of the allegations against them.

“The law is very clear. A suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Subjecting anyone to public humiliation, assault or degrading treatment is unlawful,” Agada said.

He advised Nigerians to hand over suspected criminals to the police or other appropriate security agencies for investigation and prosecution instead of resorting to self-help or mob justice.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.