The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians involved in jungle justice, declaring that laughing, filming or cheering mob killings will not save anyone from prosecution.
Disu said the police would come after not only those who physically attack and kill alleged criminals, but also those who organise, encourage, film, circulate or obstruct security operatives during mob attacks.
The IGP, while condemning the growing cases of jungle justice across the country, insisted that no Nigerian has the right to arrest, try, convict and execute a suspect outside the law.
According to him, the police would henceforth treat every case of mob action as homicide, with those involved subjected to full investigation and prosecution.
He warned that people who believe they can escape justice because they did not personally kill a victim could be in for a rude shock.
Disu said filming the attack, mobilising a crowd, inciting the mob, cheering the perpetrators, circulating videos or preventing the police from rescuing the victim could all attract criminal charges.
He said he had directed commissioners of police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that every reported case of mob action receives thorough forensic and intelligence-led investigation.
The police boss vowed that investigators would go beyond identifying alleged ringleaders, saying everyone found to have participated in a mob killing would be pursued.
He said video recordings, eyewitness accounts and community intelligence would be deployed to identify participants, including those who might attempt to hide behind the crowd.
Disu also turned his warning on members of the police force, saying officers who deliberately fail to intervene or look away while mob violence is taking place would face disciplinary action.
He stressed that protecting lives remains a fundamental responsibility of every police officer.
The IGP urged Nigerians to report suspected criminals to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
He also called on traditional, religious and community leaders, as well as market associations, to discourage their members from resorting to jungle justice.
Describing mob killings as “savagery”, Disu warned that participation in such attacks could have severe legal consequences.
He said anyone who joins a mob and takes part in killing a suspect could ultimately find themselves facing a capital offence.
The police chief further disclosed that officers were receiving additional training on how to de-escalate mob situations, particularly in cases where security personnel are confronted by large and hostile crowds.
He said the training was being incorporated into programmes for officers involved in community policing and other duties that frequently put them in direct contact with members of the public.
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