Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, has warned Nigerians who are fond of taking laws into their hands by killing anybody arrested in their neighborhood to desist forthwith.
Egbetokun, who specifically condemned the rising cases of jungle justice across the country, also ordered immediate investigation into the incidents, directing that all persons involved and found wanting be brought to face the law.
The top cop’s order came on the heels of killing of Augustine Osupayi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police serving in the Lagos State Police Command, who was killed during a tragic incident that happened in the Agege area of Lagos state on Saturday.
Daily Trust had also reported own a mob attacked a police station and burnt some suspects to death on October 13 in Edo State – the development that added to the rising cases of jungle justice in the country.
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Reacting to the incidents the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Egbetokun said the Nigerian police would not tolerate such actions any longer.
“In view of the recent spate of jungle justice in some parts of the country, the Nigeria Police Force has condemned the dangerous and abhorrent trend and cautioned the general public on the consequences of such on our criminal justice administration, the rule of law and the global reputation of our dear country.
“In the same instance, the Police specifically condemns the act of arson which led to the death by burning of some suspects in police custody, and the subsequent setting ablaze of police barracks, patrol vans and the Divisional Police Station in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State on Sunday, 13th of October 2024.
“In the above case, members of the public alleged that the police were trying to pervert justice by taking into custody some suspected kidnappers and armed robbers who have been accused of terrorizing the people of the community in Edo State.
“The main suspect was arrested and almost lynched by the community members before he was rescued by the police. His arrest led the police to arrest 3 additional suspects.
“The rescue and detention of the suspects didn’t go down well with the community members who later mobilized in large numbers and attacked the police station, killed the suspects by burning, and torched he station and properties therein.
“The erroneous perception of the community members that the police would set free the suspects was absolutely 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,” the senior police officer said.
Providing an insight to what happened in Lagos, Adejobi said a police team trying to prevent the execution of jungle justice was gruesomely attacked which led to the killing of a police officer.
He added, “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.”
He said Egbetokun sympathized with the families of the departed souls, and directs 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 added, “While the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in upholding the principles of 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.”
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