Nigeria: Police Condemn Rise in Jungle Justice, Vow to Prosecute Offenders in Edo, Lagos Attacks

20 October 2024
Vanguard (Lagos)
By Kingsley Omonobi

The Nigeria Police Force has strongly condemned the recent surge in jungle justice across parts of the country, calling it a "dangerous and abhorrent trend" that undermines the rule of law and Nigeria's global reputation.

The police warned the public about the consequences of such actions on the nation's criminal justice system.

This condemnation comes in response to violent incidents in Agenebode, Edo State, and Agege, Lagos State, where angry mobs stormed police stations, dragged out suspects accused of kidnapping and organ trafficking, and killed them. In a separate incident, a mob also killed a police officer, set fire to a station, and destroyed police property in Edo State.

In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police, in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), to investigate the incidents and ensure those responsible face the full weight of the law.

"The Nigeria Police Force condemns the dangerous and deplorable trend of jungle justice that has led to the loss of lives and property. This savage behavior is a betrayal of justice and undermines the rule of law and human rights," the statement read.

In Agenebode, the community accused the police of attempting to protect suspected kidnappers and armed robbers by taking them into custody. Despite police efforts to investigate, the mob broke into the station, killed the suspects by burning them, and set fire to the station and police property.

In Lagos, a police officer, ASP Augustine Osupayi, was killed by a mob on October 19, 2024, while trying to rescue a driver accused of hitting a motorcyclist. The mob, unhappy with the police intervention, attacked the officers and killed the ASP.

The Inspector General of Police expressed sympathy for the victims' families and reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to uphold the rule of law. He urged the public to refrain from jungle justice, noting that it destabilizes the legal system and public safety.

"Jungle justice is criminal, illogical, and unjustifiable," the statement concluded.

Read the original article on Vanguard.

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