Inspector-General of Police, Olatunde Disu has warned Nigerians against taking the law into their own hands, saying anyone involved in the assault or killing of a suspect through mob action will face criminal prosecution.
Disu, speaking in a video circulating on social media, said jungle justice could no longer be justified as community action, warning that those who participate in such acts could face murder charges.
“Anybody who assaults or summarily executes a suspected criminal in the name of mob action is guilty of murder. And the punishment for murder is death,” the Inspector-General said.
He also warned that people who incite, organise or facilitate mob attacks could face prosecution. According to Disu, those who film or circulate footage of such attacks, or deliberately prevent the police from intervening, could also be investigated for conspiracy to commit murder, an offence carrying a prison term of up to 14 years.
The IGP said he had directed Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every reported case of mob action as a homicide and conduct comprehensive investigations.
He said the police would deploy forensic and intelligence capabilities to identify and prosecute those involved.
“We are not going to spare anybody who is involved in mob action. We will do a thorough investigation, and we will take them to court,” Disu said.
The directive comes amid renewed concerns over extrajudicial killings and mob justice across the country.
One recent case involved the death of 25-year-old University of Jos graduate Ibrahim Mbaya, who was reportedly beaten to death after being accused of stealing an iPhone 12.
The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to hand suspected criminals over to law enforcement authorities rather than subjecting them to violence or punishment outside the legal system.
The police said citizens should report suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities and allow the courts to determine the guilt or innocence of suspects.
