A growing trend of public humiliation for suspected thieves is spreading across Nigeria, with viral social media videos showing alleged offenders being subjected to degrading punishments instead of being handed over to the police.
While such incidents have been reported in different parts of the country, the trend appears to be particularly common in parts of the South-South, especially in Benin City, Edo State, and Asaba, Delta State, where several videos of suspected thieves being publicly shamed, beaten or forced into degrading acts have surfaced in recent months.
The trend, which many social media users have dubbed “99 days for the thief one day for the owner,” has generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians describing the punishments as deserved deterrents against rising theft, while others warn that they amount to jungle justice and violate the law.
One of the latest videos making the rounds online shows two young men accused of stealing a bag of fresh pepper being forced to eat the raw pepper while washing them down with dry gin.
In the footage, the pair were seen seated on the ground beside the allegedly stolen bag of pepper as onlookers ordered them to consume the hot peppers, an act that has since triggered thousands of reactions across social media platforms.
The exact location of the incident has not been independently verified, but the mob could be heard speaking Igbo, and there has been no official statement from law enforcement authorities.
The pepper incident is only the latest in a string of viral punishments meted out to suspected thieves.
In one widely shared video believed to have been recorded in Benin City, a young man accused of stealing electrical wires was forced to fashion the stolen wires into a makeshift crown and wear it on his head.
As if that was not enough, onlookers compelled him to rap while they mocked him and recorded the spectacle.
In another viral clip, a man accused of stealing a set of cooking pots was allegedly forced to dance, sing and twerk before a jeering crowd as the stolen items were displayed around him.
Another widely circulated video from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) showed a man accused of stealing laptops being forced to dance before a cheering crowd while being filmed.
Earlier this year, another viral clip showed two men being beaten by an angry mob in Asaba, Delta State, after they were accused of theft, highlighting the increasing resort to vigilante-style punishment. Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident when the video surfaced.
Similarly, Benin City has witnessed several other viral incidents in which suspected thieves were stripped, paraded, beaten or compelled to perform degrading acts while crowds recorded the scenes, further underscoring the growing popularity of public humiliation as a form of instant justice in parts of the South-South.
A public affairs analyst and activist, Simon Zion, while reacting to the trend, said the viral punishments had become so widespread that suspected thieves were now expected to entertain the crowd.
“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 videos have continued to fuel debate online, with supporters arguing that public humiliation serves as a stronger deterrent than the criminal justice system, while critics insist it encourages lawlessness and risks punishing innocent people.
Speaking on the development, Abuja-based lawyer, David Mike Agada condemned the trend as unlawful.
According to him, every person accused of committing a crime remains a suspect until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He said members of the public have no legal authority to punish suspects, regardless of the allegation 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 urged Nigerians to hand over suspected offenders to the police or other relevant security agencies for investigation and prosecution rather than taking the law into their own hands.
99 days for the thief: Mob forces suspects to eat raw pepper, dance with stolen items