The Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, has warned Nigerians against jungle justice, declaring that anyone who assaults or kills a suspected criminal through mob action will face murder charges.

Disu issued the warning in a viral video while directing police authorities across the country to intensify the fight against extrajudicial killings and mob attacks.

The IGP said mob action could no longer be treated as community justice, stressing that individuals involved in assaulting or killing suspects risk prosecution under Nigeria’s murder laws.

«“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.»

IGP Orders Nationwide Investigation Into Mob Justice.

Disu directed Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every reported case of mob action as homicide.

He ordered the police commands to conduct comprehensive investigations using forensic evidence, intelligence gathering and other available investigative tools.

The police chief also warned individuals who incite, organise or record mob attacks, circulate videos of such incidents, or obstruct police officers from intervening that they could face criminal prosecution.

According to him, such individuals could be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, an offence that may attract a lengthy prison sentence.

“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,” the IGP said.

Police Warn Nigerians Against Jungle Justice.

The directive comes amid renewed concerns over the increasing cases of jungle justice and extrajudicial killings in different parts of Nigeria.

One recent case involved 25-year-old University of Jos graduate Ibrahim Mbaya, who was reportedly beaten to death after he was accused of stealing an iPhone 12.

The Nigeria Police urged members of the public to resist the temptation to punish suspects themselves and instead hand them over to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

The police stressed that an allegation of criminality does not give members of the public the right to assault, torture or kill a suspect.

The IGP’s latest directive is expected to strengthen police investigations and prosecution of individuals involved in mob killings across Nigeria.

There have been cases of jungle justice in different parts of the country when people will kill armed thieves and other criminal suspects without carrying security agencies along.