IGP Disu Declares Jungle Justice Homicide, Orders Crackdown

Inspector-General of Police Tunde Disu has warned that jungle justice will be treated as homicide and ordered police commands across the country to crack down on mob killings.

The directive followed renewed concern over attacks in which suspects are beaten or killed before police can investigate allegations against them. Disu said no grievance or accusation gives a crowd the right to take a life.

Police commands were directed to arrest people involved in mob action and prosecute cases where deaths or serious injuries occur. The order also asked officers to strengthen public sensitisation and respond faster to mob incidents.

The warning places responsibility on both communities and police divisions. Residents are expected to hand suspects over to law enforcement, while police officers will face pressure to treat mob violence as a serious criminal offence rather than a public-order disturbance.

Human-rights groups have long warned that jungle justice punishes people without trial and often targets the poor or people wrongly accused of theft, witchcraft or other crimes.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post