A disturbing video circulating on social media has ignited nationwide outrage after it captured the brutal harassment of two young women accused of stealing wigs and a phone. The footage shows the victims being stripped, beaten and subjected to degrading acts, including the insertion of pepper, by other women in a tiled bathroom. The attack occurred in what appears to be a private residence, with the assailants taking the law into their own hands.
The viral clip has sparked widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians highlighting the country’s ongoing struggle with extrajudicial punishment. Online voices stressed the importance of handing suspects over to authorities to avoid risks such as death, injury and miscarriage of justice.
Social media activist VeryDarkMan has condemned the treatment meted out to the girls, arguing that no one has the right to subject suspects to public humiliation or mob justice regardless of the allegations against them. He announced a reward of ₦1 million for anyone who can provide credible information leading to the identification of the women involved in the alleged harassment.
“I am offering ₦1 million to anyone who can identify these girls for me,” he said while demanding that those responsible be traced and investigated. The activist maintained that even if the girls were guilty of stealing wigs, they were entitled to due process and should not be subjected to public abuse or degrading treatment. He further urged the police to intervene and ensure that everyone involved is held accountable under the law.
This incident is not an isolated case. It follows a pattern of jungle justice that has become all too common in Nigeria. In August 2026, a man was killed by a mob on Lagos Island just two weeks before his wedding, following a road accident. The Lagos State Police Command has repeatedly warned residents against mob action, declaring that jungle justice constitutes murder or manslaughter under the law.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, had earlier stated: “Without ambiguity, jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime.” She warned that residents involved in mob attacks could themselves become suspects and face criminal investigation.
The victims in the latest incident were not only physically assaulted but were also subjected to degrading acts that stripped them of their dignity. The brutality of the attack has raised questions about the failure of the justice system and the growing culture of impunity. The assailants, emboldened by the absence of immediate consequences, carried out the attack with impunity, recording the act for social media consumption.
The winners: none. The losers: the two young women who were subjected to brutal treatment; their families, who must bear the trauma; and the Nigerian justice system, which has once again failed to protect its citizens.
Bottom Line: A mob has stripped and beaten two women over a theft allegation. The attackers recorded their crime. The activist is offering a reward. The police are yet to act. The question is whether the law will catch up with the mob or jungle justice will continue to thrive.