The Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, has declared a nationwide crackdown on jungle justice and mob violence, warning that anyone involved in assaulting or killing a suspected criminal outside the law will face criminal prosecution. In a video message shared on social media, the IGP emphasized that the directive is expedient amid growing cases of extrajudicial killings and the circulation of videos showing alleged mob attacks across the country.
Mob Action Equated to Murder
Disu made reference to relevant provisions of Nigerian law, stressing that those who participate in mob attacks could face serious criminal charges. He stated, "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." He further cited legal backing: "Section 319 of the Criminal Code and Section 221 of the Penal Code, both prescribe the death penalty for murder in Nigeria."
The police chief also warned that criminal liability would not be limited to individuals who physically attack or kill victims. According to him, people who organise, encourage, or facilitate mob attacks could also be prosecuted for conspiracy. He added, "Those who video the event and circulate them, those who take pictures and circulate them, and those who mobilise the crowd, or those who block the police from intervening, all of them are liable. They are guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. And the punishment for that is 14 years imprisonment."
Directive to Police Commissioners
Disu said he had directed police commissioners across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to adopt a more aggressive approach to cases involving mob violence. He continued: "I have directed all the Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, to treat every case of mob action as homicide. And to carry out full-scale investigations using all the forensic tools and intelligence tools available to the police."
He concluded with a firm stance: "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. We will prosecute them, and we will make sure that justice is done. There’s no exception to this."
