A 28-year-old Nigerian, Mene Ogidi (also identified as Oghenemine Ogidi or OG Million), was shot and killed by lawless police officers in Effurun, Delta State, on April 26, 2026, in a case that has sparked severe public outrage. Mene Ogidi was shot at close range by ASP Nuhu Usman (also known as Ogbegbe) after he was already restrained by handcuff and sitting on the ground at a motor park.

A video surfaced on social media showing Ogidi pleading for his life, explaining that he did not know a package he was collecting contained a pistol, and offered to lead the police to the person who sent him. Even though the officers involved have been dismissed, the rate at which individuals are killed without proper judiciary examination is becoming alarming in our country Nigeria. Mob killing is primitive and archaic.

In fact, the sanctity and protection of the human life is no longer seen as a priority in the modern day Nigeria. Extra judiciary killings, mob killings, ritual killings have become the order of the day. It seems as if everyone have gone through the four corners of the law schools, we have become the giver and taker of life. Human life is gradually losing its relevance in the society called Nigeria. Extra judiciary killings are happening almost in daily basis, it is gradually becoming a norm, and, no one seems to be bothered. Those who are meant to be law enforcement agents are killing innocent civilians; likewise civilians are killing fellow civilians. When will these anomalies stop in Nigeria? When are we going to value the sacredness of human life? Is there a new law passed on the lawful right to engage in jungle justice? Are we not going to gradually eradicate ourselves with these incessant killings? When will these killings stop?

In the year 2021 it was reported by a human rights group that the law enforcement agencies are responsible for the extra judiciary killings of 13,241 Nigerians from 2011-2021. It simply means that the law enforcements agencies were responsible for the killings of 1,324 Nigerians per year. In most cases, these law enforcement agents were not killing based on self-defence, rather, they killed civilians for flimsy reasons.

In the month of November 2021, a police officer in Lagos killed a tricycle operator because of an argument that erupted over N100 extortion fee. This incident in Meiran, Lagos state, eventually claimed three lives from the violence that erupted. It has been in record that power drunk police officers who engage in extortion kill civilians on the slightest provocation. The military also from time past have engaged in extra judiciary killings. In the South-East when the military waged war against the Indigenous People of Biafra, it has been reported that numerous civilians were killed. Innocent lives were lost and it seems as if no one is saying anything. Law enforcement agencies that are meant to protect human lives are now taking the lives that they are meant to be protecting. Who will restore sanity to the way of life of these law enforcement agencies?

In as much as extra judiciary killings is becoming a norm in Nigeria, it is worth noting that Nigeria is fast becoming a jungle justice state. The incessant mob killings is becoming very alarming, civilians now kill their fellow civilians because of tribal sentiments, religious differences, and various idiosyncrasies. On the 13th of May, 2022, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a 200 level Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto state was killed by her fellow students for blasphemy. The gruesome and cold-blooded murder of Deborah Samuel Yakubu is very pathetic. She was killed by her fellow students and those that killed her celebrated their evil boastfully. Till date the perpetuators of this crime have not faced the wrath of the law.

The federal government have not declared a military operation to arrest the evil perpetuators. The nepotism of the federal government can be vividly seen. If such a heinous crime was committed in some other parts of the country, by now ‘crocodile will be dancing again’. Deborah Samuel Yakubu was burnt to death by lawless mob, who would help us bring an end to this barbaric acts in Nigeria?

Unlike Deborah who was killed lawlessly in the Northern part of Nigeria, another incident happened not in the Northern part of the country but in the Southern part of the country. On the 12th of May, 2022, David who was said to be a sound engineer in Lagos was beaten and set ablaze allegedly by a group of Hausa men over a misunderstanding that ensued because of N100 with an ‘Okada’ rider. David and his friends were beaten and David was eventually set ablaze, and his friends are in critical conditions in the hospital. It is no longer normal to engage in argument in Nigeria. David was a married man, a father of two children. What would his wife tell his children? That their father was killed because of argument over N100? Who is going to safe Nigeria from this primitive and barbaric act of jungle justice? What would become the lot of the perpetuators of this heinous crime? Are they going to face the full wrath of the law or they would be covered up?

The case of Mene, Deborah and David amongst others point to the fact that Nigeria is no longer too sane a country. Deborah, David, and others have been killed, who would be killed next by the barbaric mob or by power drunken law enforcement agents? What are the plausible solutions to put a stop to these killings in Nigeria?

With these anomalies happening each day around us, we can say no one is safe. It is on this note we all need to stand up for justice, speak up when necessary and stay safe.