The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has warned Nigerians that taking part in, encouraging, filming or sharing videos of mob killings will not protect anyone from prosecution.
Disu gave the warning while condemning the growing cases of jungle justice across the country. He stressed that no person or group has the legal right to arrest, try, convict or execute a suspect outside the law.
The IGP said the police would treat every mob action case as homicide and investigate and prosecute everyone found to have taken part.
He added that those who attack victims physically are not the only ones who could face charges. Anyone who plans, incites, encourages or supports mob killings could also be held criminally responsible.
“Filming the incidents, circulating these videos, mobilising crowds, or blocking security agents, you don’t want to allow police to lead them, to take them away. You stop police from interfering can also attract criminal charges,” Disu said.
He said commissioners of police in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been directed to treat every mob action as homicide and carry out full forensic and intelligence investigations.
“No exception. No exception. We will identify, arrest, and prosecute not just the ringleaders, not just the ringleaders, but everybody available, everybody we can identify who took part in it,” he said.
Disu said investigators would use video evidence, eyewitness accounts and community intelligence to identify suspects.
He also warned officers who fail to intervene, saying they would face disciplinary action.
“Protecting life is not an optional thing for any officer wearing this uniform. You must do your job,” the IGP said.
He urged Nigerians to report suspected crimes to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands.
“Taking a life is not your civic duty,” he said.
Disu described jungle justice as “savagery” and said it would be treated as murder.
“So to every Nigerian watching this programme, if you join a mob action today, if you join them, you may be answering for a capital offence tomorrow,” he said.
He added that police were improving officer training on how to calm mob situations, especially when crowds outnumber responding officers. The training is being included in programmes for officers who regularly police communities.
