IGP Disu Declares Jungle Justice Homicide, Orders Nationwide Crackdown

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has warned members of the public against resorting to jungle justice, saying anyone involved in the lynching or unlawful killing of a suspect will face prosecution.

Disu, who spoke in an interview with journalists in Abuja, said only a competent court of law has the authority to determine the guilt or otherwise of a criminal suspect and impose the appropriate punishment.

He urged members of the public to hand over suspected criminals to the police or other relevant security agencies for proper investigation and prosecution, stressing that no individual or group has the right to take another person’s life.

The IGP said: “Let me state this clearly, without ambiguity: jungle justice is murder. It is not justice; it is a crime, and the Nigeria Police Force will treat it as such. It is illegal.

“Nigeria operates under the rule of law, not mob rule. No citizen, no community and no group has the right to try, sentence or execute another person. Nobody.

“Sections 33, 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, guarantee every Nigerian, including a suspect, the right to life, dignity and fair hearing.

“No mob action can be justified. Mob action violates the victim’s right to life, dignity and fair hearing. The law presumes everybody innocent until proven guilty in a court of law—not in the street, not by a mob and not by a phone video because you saw the person in a video.

“Innocent people are dying daily on mere suspicion. We have documented painful and serious cases—students being lynched over allegations of phone theft, travellers killed over mistaken identity, and young people murdered because of rumours of blasphemy or ritual killing. We have seen it in this country.”

Disu cited the tragic lynching of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo State, in March 2025, as a serious reminder of the dangers of mob justice.

He said the incident should serve as a warning to Nigerians that allegations, rumours, viral videos or shouts of “thief” do not constitute evidence or confer on anyone the right to take another person’s life.

“That single incident should haunt every Nigerian every day,” he said. “Just a rumour, a shout of ‘thief, thief, thief,’ or a viral video—none of that is evidence. Listen, none of that is evidence. None of that gives anybody the right to take another person’s life. That is not enough.”

The IGP warned that those who participate in jungle justice would face severe legal consequences, noting that anyone who unlawfully kills a suspect could be prosecuted for murder or manslaughter, depending on the circumstances.

He said the liability would not be limited to the person who delivers the fatal blow, adding that those who plan, incite, encourage or provide support for mob action could also be held criminally responsible.

“It is not only the person who strikes the fatal blow or the person who uses a cutlass to cut the victim,” Disu said.

“Anybody who plans, incites or encourages the mob, who supports them or gives them all the support, even without laying a hand on the victim, is criminally liable.

“Those who merely cheer or support the act, saying ‘well done, una well done,’ can be charged with conspiracy or conspiracy to murder, which carries severe punishment.

“Filming the incident, circulating the videos, mobilising crowds or blocking security agents from rescuing a suspect can also attract criminal charges.”

The IGP said he had directed all Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to treat every case of mob action as a homicide and investigate such incidents thoroughly through forensic and intelligence-based methods.

He said the police would identify and arrest not only the alleged ring leaders but every participant who could be identified through video evidence, eyewitness accounts and community intelligence.

“We will identify, arrest and prosecute not just the ring leaders, but everybody we can identify who took part in it. If you are there laughing, we will check the video evidence, eyewitness testimonies and community intelligence,” he said.

Disu also warned police officers and other security personnel against failing to intervene when mob action is taking place.

He said officers who deliberately look away, fail to intervene or neglect their responsibility to protect lives would face disciplinary action.

“Even police officers and security officers who fail to intervene or look away when the crowd gathers and fail to do what is necessary will face disciplinary action,” he said.

“Protecting life is not an optional responsibility for any officer wearing this uniform. You must do your job.”