A man alleged to be a pastor and a yet-to-be-identified married woman were subjected to public humiliation in Iguomon community, near Benin City, Edo State, after they were reportedly caught engaging in a sexual act.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, was captured in a viral video that circulated widely on Monday.
Eyewitnesses claimed the pastor had been involved in an extramarital affair with the woman for some time before they were eventually caught. Angry youths in the area allegedly stormed the house where the pair were found, dragged them out, and stripped the pastor completely naked before forcing him to sit on the bare floor.
The woman was also dragged outside, mocked by the crowd, and later stripped naked by a female member of the mob. The scene attracted a large gathering, with many residents filming the event on their phones.
Reacting to the incident, prominent Edo-based activist and convener of the Talakawa Parliament, Marxist Kola Edokpayi, condemned the mob action. He emphasized that jungle justice is a dangerous and unlawful practice that must be discouraged.
“We condemn jungle justice in its entirety. What those people did in that community cannot be justified,” Edokpayi said. “The matter should have been reported to the police for proper investigation and appropriate legal action.”
He warned that such acts of mob justice could lead to unintended consequences, including loss of life.