The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has launched a nationwide offensive against jungle justice, directing police authorities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat mob killings as homicide and pursue those responsible with the full force of the law.
Disu, in a strongly worded address on Sunday, warned that no individual, community, vigilante group or association has the legal right to arrest, convict or execute another person based merely on suspicion, accusation, rumours or videos circulating on social media.
His declaration comes amid renewed concerns over mob attacks in which suspects are beaten, stabbed, burnt or otherwise killed before security agencies can intervene.
The IGP made it clear that the police would no longer dismiss such incidents as spontaneous community reactions or ordinary disputes.
“Jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime, and the Nigeria Police Force will treat it as such,” Disu declared.
He stressed that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, not mob rule, insisting that determining guilt and imposing punishment remain the responsibilities of the courts.
According to Disu, Sections 33, 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, protect the rights to life, dignity and fair hearing.
Those rights, he noted, do not disappear simply because a person has been accused of committing a serious offence.
The IGP condemned the growing practice of crowds surrounding alleged criminals, assaulting them and, in some cases, killing them before the police arrive.
He warned that an accusation is not evidence and that shouting “thief”, sharing a photograph or circulating a video online cannot substitute for proper police investigation and judicial proceedings.
The police chief maintained that guilt must be established through due process—not in the street, by a crowd or through social media.
Disu cited the March 2025 killing of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo State, as a painful example of how suspicion can quickly turn into deadly mob violence.
The travellers, reportedly heading from Rivers State towards Kano, were intercepted after locally made weapons were allegedly discovered in their vehicle. Suspicion that they were kidnappers reportedly triggered a mob attack that ended in the deaths of all 16 passengers.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with police subsequently arresting suspects in connection with the killings.
The Uromi tragedy also renewed national debate over mob justice and the dangers of allowing allegations to become collective punishment.
Disu said similar incidents have occurred in different parts of the country, involving people accused of crimes such as phone theft, kidnapping, ritual activities and blasphemy.
In some cases, those accused were later found to have been innocent or the allegations could not be substantiated.
The IGP’s warning takes on added significance in an era when allegations can spread across social media within minutes.
A short video, photograph or unverified claim can quickly attract thousands of shares, creating public outrage before investigators have established the facts.
Disu therefore warned Nigerians against treating online content as proof of guilt.
He also directed police investigators to go beyond identifying the person who delivered the fatal blow.
According to him, ringleaders, instigators and others whose actions contributed to mob violence should also be identified and prosecuted where evidence establishes criminal responsibility.
Investigators are expected to rely on eyewitness testimony, video footage, forensic evidence and community intelligence to determine how incidents occurred and establish the roles played by those involved.
The IGP also warned Nigerians who film mob attacks with their mobile phones that recording an incident does not automatically place them beyond the reach of the law.
He said people who incite crowds, mobilise attackers, circulate material that contributes to the violence or obstruct security personnel from rescuing a suspect could face investigation where their conduct constitutes an offence.
Far from protecting perpetrators, videos recorded during mob attacks could become valuable evidence for investigators seeking to establish who was present, who attacked the victim and who encouraged or facilitated the violence.
Disu’s directive is not limited to civilians.
The IGP warned police officers who fail to intervene or deliberately look away while a mob attacks a suspect that they could face disciplinary action.
He stressed that the police have a duty to protect life regardless of the allegation against a suspect.
A person accused of a crime may eventually be convicted—or acquitted—but until the courts determine the case, that individual remains entitled to protection under the law.
The directive therefore places responsibility on officers to act swiftly whenever they encounter a mob threatening a suspect’s life.
Disu urged Nigerians who witness or suspect criminal activity to alert the police or the nearest security agency rather than taking matters into their own hands.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, community leaders and other influential figures to discourage mob violence.
Community vigilance, he said, should support law enforcement rather than replace it.
Citizens can help by reporting suspects, preserving information and providing evidence to investigators—but they must not become judges, juries and executioners.
The IGP acknowledged that insecurity, crime and delays in the justice system have fuelled public frustration in many communities.
But he rejected the argument that such frustrations justify extrajudicial killings.
According to him, weaknesses in the justice system should be addressed through stronger institutions, faster investigations and effective prosecution—not by allowing crowds to decide who deserves to live or die.
The challenge now is whether the directive will translate into sustained enforcement.
Police investigators will have to identify suspects from chaotic crime scenes, preserve digital evidence, obtain credible witness statements and establish individual responsibility.
Prosecutors, in turn, will have to build cases strong enough to withstand judicial scrutiny.
The IGP’s declaration effectively draws a clear line: reporting a suspect is lawful; attacking or killing that suspect is not.
If a person is suspected of committing a crime, Nigerians are expected to report the matter.
If evidence exists, it should be handed to investigators.
If an arrest is made, the suspect should be allowed to face the courts.
But when an accusation becomes a death sentence imposed by a crowd, the incident will not be celebrated as “community justice.”
It will be investigated as a crime.
The message from IGP Disu is therefore unmistakable: Jungle justice is not justice.
A mob is not a court. A viral video is not a conviction. An accusation is not proof of guilt.
And when a crowd takes a person’s life, the police will treat the death as a serious criminal matter requiring investigation and prosecution.
For Nigeria, the choice is clear: communities can help fight crime without becoming lawless themselves. Protecting society from criminals cannot mean abandoning the very rule of law that protects every citizen.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
