The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has warned Nigerians that participating in, encouraging, filming or circulating videos of mob killings will not shield anyone from prosecution.

Disu issued the warning while condemning the rising incidents of jungle justice across the country, stressing that no individual or group has the right to arrest, try, convict or execute a suspect outside the law.

The IGP said the police would treat every case of mob action as homicide and ensure that everyone identified as having participated in such incidents is investigated and prosecuted.

He said those who physically attack victims are not the only ones who could face legal consequences, adding that people who plan, incite, encourage or support mob killings could also be held criminally liable.

“Filming the incidents, circulating these videos, mobilising crowds, or blocking security agents, you don’t want to allow police to lead them, to take them away. You stop police from interfering can also attract criminal charges,” Disu said.

He said he had directed all commissioners of police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every case of mob action as homicide and conduct full forensic and intelligence investigations.

“No exception. No exception. We will identify, arrest, and prosecute not just the ringleaders, not just the ringleaders, but everybody available, everybody we can identify who took part in it,” he said.

Disu said investigators would rely on video evidence, eyewitness testimonies and community intelligence to identify people involved in mob attacks.

He also warned police officers who fail to intervene or deliberately look away when mob violence occurs, saying disciplinary action would be taken against such officers.

“Protecting life is not an optional thing for any officer wearing this uniform. You must do your job,” the IGP said.

The police chief urged Nigerians who suspect someone of committing a crime to report the matter to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands.

“Taking a life is not your civic duty,” he said, urging community leaders, religious leaders and market associations to use their influence to discourage jungle justice.

Disu described jungle justice as “savagery” and insisted that it would be treated as murder under the law.

He further warned Nigerians that joining mob action could expose them to serious criminal penalties.

“So to every Nigerian watching this programme, if you join a mob action today, if you join them, you may be answering for a capital offence tomorrow,” he said.

The IGP also disclosed that the police were strengthening training for officers on how to de-escalate mob situations, particularly because officers responding to such incidents may sometimes be heavily outnumbered by crowds.

He said the training was being incorporated into programmes for officers who regularly perform policing duties in communities. (The Sun)

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