:Lobbying forEx-Police Spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi has warned Nigerians that lobbying for the release of suspected criminals is “shameful” and complicit. His responses reveal a troubling subculture in which non-public relationships and social tensions routinely undermine justice, marginalizing victims and emboldening perpetrators.**
Why Adejobi’s warning is important Justice Degraded: Petitions to project criminals degraded accept as truth with the justice machinery and weaken law enforcement. Abandoned victims: Families feel abandoned when society prioritizes the perpetrator over the duty.
A culture of impunity: Begging for projection reinforces the idea that there are no real consequences for crime. Humanitarian Perspective: The Cost of “Begging” Many Nigerians have seen influential people interfere with unarrested suspects. While it may seem kind, the human toll is huge: Victims’ trauma is deepened when offenders are allowed to stroll around untethered. Trust in institutions meant to protect communities is lost.
Citizens feel at risk knowing that criminals can break fines. IImagine a parent whose child was kidnapped. If friends ask for a suspect’s projection, how do they feel about it? Adejobi’s words remind us that justice must prioritize the victims, not the perpetrators again. The broader context Adejobi’s assertion comes amid terrorist demands for a prisoner swap involving kidnapped schoolchildren and a retired major-general. Normalizing deals with criminals emboldens them to be society’s greatest vulnerability.
Why Nigerians are asking for liberation Cultural Ties: Loyalty to family or tribe is more than fair. Fear of stigma: To avoid embarrassment, families seek leniency. Corruption and Influence: Wealthy or connected people strain police to bend policy. While human, those motivations compromise collective safety.
A call for collective responsibility Adejobi’s message: “Anyone who begs… is also corrupt.” Citizens should stand corporate against vices. Communities should help enforce regulations. Leaders must set examples of not interfering for non-public gain.
