Skales, the renowned Afrobeats artist, has attributed Nigeria’s relatively lower crime rate to the widespread occurrence of extrajudicial punishments, also known as jungle justice.
In a candid interview on Just Vibes, which was shared on X on Wednesday, Skales discussed how the fear of facing such punishments serves as a deterrent for criminals in Nigeria. He explained that in contrast to countries like the UK, where such practices are absent, criminals in Nigeria are wary of being subjected to harsh, extrajudicial retribution.
“There is lesser crime in Nigeria compared to the UK because they know if they [criminals] get caught, there is jungle justice. They burn you alive,” Skales explained.
However, Skales was quick to clarify that while he acknowledges the deterrent effect of jungle justice, he does not support the practice, recognising it as both illegal and unfair.
The conversation also touched on the ever-evolving Afrobeats genre, with Skales expressing the difficulty in defining a singular sound for the music. According to him, Afrobeats should be understood as a broad category that embraces a range of musical influences, rather than a fixed style.
