CAMPAIGN AGAINST JUNGLE JUSTICE IN CROSS RIVER STATE: A SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION (SBCC)

Abstract

The trend of jungle justice in Cross River State is a worrisome development. Jungle or mob justice is a global phenomenon which involves the lynching of people that are culpable in criminal activities in the society irrespective of the magnitude of the offence. Whether small or big, if caught by angry mob, be sure that you will be burnt. It is presumed that, most times even with the presence of law enforcement agents, people still take laws into their hands not minding the devastating consequences that may arise thereafter. The study adopted Social and Behavioral Change Communication strategy in order to find remediation to the problem. The paper concluded that jungle justice is on a high increase in Cross River State, which calls for prompt communication intervention, advocacy and public enlightenment campaigns to arrest the situation, especially in Calabar where the scourge is prevalent. The paper recommends that laws should be advocated that will discourage jungle justice, SBCC approach should be used in canvassing, mobilizing, sensitizing the public to have a second thought on jungle justice trend which have become a global trend especially in Third World countries such as Nigeria.