The leader of opposition Citizens Alliance has said that the country’s justice system in not fit for purpose after a rise in mob justice by citizens taking the law into their own hands. 

Dr Ismaila Ceesay said that administering “mob justice on alleged criminals indicates that citizens lack confidence in the criminal justice system.”

He added that mob justice “leads to a breakdown of authourity with dangerous consequences.

“Law enforcement must be equipped, empowered and trusted to maintain the Rule of Law.”

Dr Ceesay’s comment comes amid a rise in viral videos on social media showing people mercilessly beating alleged thieves accused of breaking into their homes.

One of the viral videos showed a teenager being manhandled after he was caught with a scissors in the early hours of the morning – he denied any bad intention but confessed to be a smoker. 

Another footage showed a man confessing to conducting series of robbery and killing after being beaten up by a group of men. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba