IGP Disu: Mob Justice Now Murder

“Anybody who assaults or summarily executes a suspected criminal in the name of mob action is guilty of murder. And the punishment for murder is death,” the IGP stated.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, has warned Nigerians against resorting to jungle justice, declaring that anyone who assaults or kills a suspect through mob action will face prosecution for murder.

Disu, in a viral video, said mob action could no longer be justified as community intervention, stressing that those involved in the unlawful killing of suspects risk the death penalty under Nigerian law.

“Anybody who assaults or summarily executes a suspected criminal in the name of mob action is guilty of murder. And the punishment for murder is death,” the IGP stated.

The police chief also warned that individuals who incite, organise or participate in mob attacks, as well as those who prevent police intervention or record and circulate footage of such incidents, could face prosecution for conspiracy to commit murder.

According to him, conspiracy to commit murder carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

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 conduct comprehensive investigations using forensic and intelligence capabilities.

“We are not going to spare anybody who is involved in mob action. We will do a thorough investigation, and we will take them to court,” he said.

The directive comes amid renewed concern over extrajudicial killings across the country, including the reported death of 25-year-old University of Jos graduate, Ibrahim Mbaya, who was allegedly beaten to death after being accused of stealing an iPhone 12.

The Nigeria Police Force urged members of the public to hand suspected criminals over to law enforcement authorities rather than take the law into their own hands.