Laws Should Never Become an Excuse for Violence

Nigeria has laws that reflect the views of its elected lawmakers.

People are free to support those laws or call for them to be changed.

But one thing should never be acceptable.

Violence.

Human rights advocates argue that Nigeria's legal environment contributes to fear and makes victims of violence reluctant to seek help, while others defend the country's laws on moral and cultural grounds. Whatever side of that debate people stand on, there should be no disagreement that assault, blackmail, kidnapping, and murder are crimes that must be prosecuted.

I believe the government has a duty to enforce the law—but it also has a duty to protect

every Nigerian from criminal violence.

Justice belongs in the courtroom.

Not in the hands of a mob.