Nigeria Police Force condemns jungle justice, urges public to shun violence

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has strongly condemned the rising cases of jungle justice in various parts of the country, emphasizing its destructive impact on the criminal justice system.

According to the Force Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the trend, characterized by mob actions and extrajudicial killings, has led to loss of lives and property destruction.

The Police Force reiterated that jungle justice, a deplorable and savage behaviour, has led to the tragic loss of lives and destruction of property across the country.

“This inhuman act is a betrayal of justice and due process, which undermines the rule of law, fundamental principles and ideals of human rights, and justice.

“The erroneous perception of the community members that the police would set free the suspects was wrong and quite unfair, as the police never intended to pervert justice in the case, more so that they have through painstaking investigation arrested 3 other suspects fingered in the criminal act.

*In another development, a police team trying to prevent the execution of jungle justice was gruesomely attacked which led to the killing of a police officer, ASP Augustine Osupayi, attached to the Lagos State Command, by a group of violent mob on Saturday, 19th of October 2024, in Agege, Lagos State. The police team had raced down to the rescue of a driver who was alleged to have accidentally knocked down a motorcycle rider to death. The group of motorcycle riders pounced on the driver, who was eventually rescued by the police. The rescue didn’t go down well with the riders who descended on the police team and unfortunately killed the ASP instantly. These are very few cases out of many incidences recorded across the country.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, sympathized with the families of the departed souls, and directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to investigate these incidents, and bring all persons found wanting to face the full wrath of the law”, he stressed.

While the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in upholding the principles of the rule of law, members of the public are urged to shun acts of jungle justice, and destruction emphasizing that it serves only to destabilize the foundation of legal authority and public safety. It is criminal, illogical, and unjustifiable, irrespective of the grievances held by the perpetrators.