Understanding and Managing Jungle Justice in Ibadan Metropolis

This study examines the management of the challenges of jungle justice in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. Jungle justice, defined as the extrajudicial punishment of alleged offenders by mobs without recourse to due process, has persisted as a serious social and institutional concern. Anchored in the Self-Help Theory and Structural-Functionalist Theory, the study adopts a qualitative case study design to explore the drivers, management challenges, and mitigating strategies associated with this phenomenon. Data were obtained through nine indepth and key informant interviews involving human rights advocates, community leaders, religious figures, legal practitioners, and scholars. Thematic analysis revealed that economic hardship, unemployment, political manipulation, institutional corruption, and loss of faith in the justice system are key drivers of mob violence. Management efforts such as public enlightenment, promotion of equity and fairness, improved education, and job creation were identified but found to be constrained by weak institutional capacity, poor funding, and limited grassroots engagement. The study concludes that addressing jungle justice requires multidimensional, community-based interventions that strengthen justice institutions, restore public trust, and promote social equity.