The growing resort to jungle justice and mob attacks against persons accused of committing crimes has continued to raise concerns over the rule of law and the protection of fundamental human rights, as the Nigeria Police Force moves to clamp down on individuals who take the law into their own hands.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has now directed Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every case of mob action as a homicide and conduct comprehensive investigations aimed at identifying and prosecuting all those involved.
Disu, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview, warned that Nigerians who assault or kill criminal suspects through mob action would no longer be allowed to hide under the guise of community action, stressing that such acts constitute serious criminal offences.
The IGP said anyone who assaults or summarily executes a suspect could be prosecuted for murder, adding that the punishment prescribed for murder upon conviction is death.
“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,” Disu stated.
He said the police would also investigate the roles played by individuals who incite or organise mob attacks, prevent security personnel from intervening, or otherwise participate in the commission of the offence.
According to the IGP, persons found to have conspired to kill a suspect could face prosecution for conspiracy to commit murder, an offence which may attract a lengthy prison sentence where established under the law.
“We are not going to spare anybody who is involved in mob action. We will do a thorough investigation and we will charge them to court,” he said.
The police directive comes against the backdrop of renewed public concern over cases in which suspects have been beaten, tortured or killed by mobs before the allegations against them could be properly investigated or subjected to judicial scrutiny.
One such case is the death of 25-year-old Ibrahim Mbaya, a University of Jos graduate, who was allegedly beaten to death after he was accused of stealing an iPhone 12.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger enforcement against mob violence and greater public awareness that an allegation of criminality does not amount to a conviction.
Under Nigeria’s criminal justice system, the investigation of suspected offences is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, while the determination of guilt rests with the courts. Citizens therefore have no legal authority to impose punishment on persons merely accused of committing crimes.
Beyond the loss of lives, jungle justice can also result in the killing of innocent persons through mistaken identity, false allegations or unverified claims circulated within communities and on social media.
The spread of videos of mob attacks has further intensified concerns over the phenomenon, with the police warning that individuals who actively participate in, facilitate or encourage such attacks could face criminal liability depending on the circumstances of each case.
Disu consequently urged Nigerians to resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands, directing them to report suspected criminal activities to the police or other appropriate law enforcement agencies.
He assured Nigerians that the police would deploy available forensic, intelligence and investigative capabilities to identify perpetrators of mob violence and ensure that those found culpable are brought before the courts.
The IGP’s warning reinforces the position that suspicion alone cannot establish criminal liability and that every person accused of an offence is entitled to due process rather than punishment by a mob.
