IGP Declares Total Crackdown On Jungle Justice

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians that participating in, encouraging, filming or circulating videos of mob killings will no longer be treated as passive conduct but as actions capable of attracting criminal prosecution, declaring that jungle justice would henceforth be prosecuted as murder.

According to him, the era when perpetrators of mob violence escaped justice because they blended into crowds was over, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force had adopted a tougher approach aimed at identifying and prosecuting everyone connected with such attacks.

Disu said that no citizen or group possesses the authority to arrest, try, convict or execute any suspect outside the judicial process.

He disclosed that he had directed Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every incident of mob action as homicide and carry out comprehensive forensic and intelligence-led investigations to ensure those responsible are brought before the law.

“There will be no exception. We will identify, arrest and prosecute not only the ringleaders but everyone we can identify who took part in these criminal acts”, the IGP declared.

Disu warned that criminal liability would not be limited to those who physically attacked victims, noting that individuals who incite, organise, encourage or facilitate mob violence could equally be prosecuted.

He said those who record mob attacks on their mobile phones, circulate the footage on social media, mobilise crowds or obstruct police officers from rescuing victims may also face criminal charges.

According to him, investigators would rely heavily on video recordings, eyewitness accounts and community intelligence to trace and prosecute suspects involved in jungle justice incidents.

The IGP stressed that modern investigative tools had made it increasingly difficult for offenders to hide behind anonymity, warning that every identifiable participant in mob violence would be held accountable.

Disu also sent a strong message to police personnel, warning that officers who fail to intervene or deliberately ignore incidents of jungle justice would face disciplinary sanctions.

He emphasised that protecting lives remains a fundamental responsibility of every police officer and cannot be treated as optional.

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

The IGP urged Nigerians to hand over criminal suspects to law enforcement agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands, insisting that extrajudicial killings only deepen lawlessness and undermine the justice system.

He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations and other community stakeholders to intensify public enlightenment campaigns against jungle justice and promote respect for the rule of law.

Describing mob killings as “savagery”, Disu warned that anyone who joins such actions could ultimately find themselves standing trial for a capital offence.

“Taking a life is not your civic duty. If you join a mob action today, you may be answering for a capital offence tomorrow”, he cautioned.

The IGP further disclosed that the Force had strengthened training programmes for officers on de-escalating mob situations, particularly because responding officers are often heavily outnumbered during such incidents.

He said the specialised training had been integrated into community policing programmes to better equip officers with the skills required to prevent mob violence while safeguarding lives and restoring public order.