Tension flared in the Iguomon community near Benin City, Edo State, after a pastor and a married woman were publicly stripped and humiliated by a mob over allegations of infidelity. The shocking incident, which occurred over the weekend, went viral on Monday, July 1, 2025, after disturbing video footage surfaced online.
Eyewitnesses claim the pastor was dragged out of a private residence by irate youths, accused of engaging in an extramarital affair with the woman whose identity is yet to be confirmed. Witnesses said the crowd descended on the pair without mercy, stripping the man naked and forcing him to sit on bare ground in public view.
The woman was not spared either. A female member of the mob was seen in the video forcibly pulling off her clothes while onlookers jeered and recorded the incident on their phones. The viral footage has since sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the act of jungle justice.
Local sources revealed that the scene attracted a large crowd of residents who took turns mocking and insulting the duo. Despite the humiliation, no formal complaint has been lodged with the Edo State Police Command as of press time.
Reacting to the video, prominent human rights activist Marxist Kola Edokpayi of the Talakawa Parliament strongly criticized the mob action. “We totally condemn jungle justice in all forms. No matter the offense, this level of public humiliation is unacceptable. The right thing would have been to report the case to the police for lawful investigation and action,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, said the incident had not yet been officially reported. “We cannot act based on a viral video alone. We urge anyone with credible information to come forward and make an official report at the nearest police station,” Yamu stated.
The incident has renewed conversations around mob justice in Nigeria, with legal experts, human rights groups, and social commentators calling for urgent public education on the dangers and illegality of taking the law into one’s hands.
