A man was allegedly assaulted by a mob in Onitsha, Anambra State, after being falsely accused of stealing money, sparking renewed concerns over mob justice.
A viral video circulating on social media showed the victim repeatedly insisting on his innocence, swearing on the lives of his mother and siblings that he had not taken any money.
Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE), Ebonyi State chapter, Sampson Iko Nweke, said it was later confirmed that the allegation against the man was false.
Nweke condemned the attack as a serious violation of the victim’s fundamental rights, stressing that no one should be subjected to violence based on unverified accusations.
He urged the victim to seek legal redress and appealed to anyone who knows him to assist in ensuring justice is pursued.
The incident has reignited public concern over the prevalence of mob justice and renewed calls for suspected offenders to be handed over to law enforcement authorities rather than subjected to extrajudicial violence.
