By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Inclusive Forum for Accountable Society (IFAS) has strongly condemned the recent alleged assault and public humiliation of two young women in Calabar, Cross River State, describing the incident as a dangerous violation of human rights and a threat to the rule of law.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, human rights lawyer Barrister James Ibor expressed deep concern over reports that the two women were allegedly tracked to their homes, assaulted, filmed and forced to recant statements said to be defamatory before they were handed over to law enforcement authorities.
According to IFAS, the alleged actions, which reportedly took place at the residence of a serving lawmaker, amount to mob justice and undermine Nigeria’s constitutional and legal framework.
The organisation said it was particularly disturbed by comments circulating online that appeared to encourage similar attacks, warning that such actions could fuel a dangerous trend of vigilantism.
Citing Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Barrister Ibor noted that every Nigerian has the right to the dignity of the human person, including protection from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.
“No human being should be subjected to the kind of treatment allegedly meted out to the two young women.
“Nigeria already has laws addressing defamation and cyberstalking. Where anyone is suspected of violating these laws, the appropriate legal process should be followed,” he said.
IFAS further expressed concern over the alleged involvement of Cyril James Omini, a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, who reportedly announced a N5 million reward for information leading to the identification of those behind the alleged defamatory online posts.
The organisation argued that the reward and the events that allegedly followed could be interpreted as encouraging mob justice, stressing that public officials have a constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law rather than promote unlawful actions.
The group also criticised what it described as the slow response of security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), saying their silence could embolden similar incidents.
IFAS therefore called for an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the matter and urged the prosecution of everyone found culpable in accordance with the law.
“The security agencies must uphold due process and protect the rights of all citizens, including those accused of committing offences,” the organisation stated.
It warned against allowing Nigeria to drift into a society where powerful individuals take the law into their own hands, insisting that justice must always be administered through established legal institutions rather than mob action.