Mob Justice Is Murder, IG Warns Nigerians

Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against mob justice, saying anyone who kills a suspected criminal outside the law is guilty of murder.

Disu stressed that Nigeria operates under the rule of law and urged citizens to allow security agencies and the courts to handle allegations of crime.

He said mob action violates suspects’ rights to life, dignity and fair hearing, adding that social media posts, videos or rumours do not constitute sufficient evidence to take the law into one’s hands.

The police chief warned that anyone who kills a suspected criminal could face murder charges punishable by death. He added that those who plan, incite or support mob violence could also face prosecution.

Disu said he had directed commissioners of police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every case of mob action as homicide and investigate such cases thoroughly.

He said the police would identify, arrest and prosecute people involved in mob violence using video evidence, eyewitness accounts and intelligence.