Lagos Police Warn Residents: Jungle Justice Is Murder, Not Justice

The Police Command in Lagos State has cautioned residents against resorting to jungle justice, warning that mob action could constitute murder or manslaughter under the law.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, issued the warning in a video announcement made available to newsmen on Tuesday. The statement followed the killing of a man by a mob on Lagos Island — just two weeks before his wedding — after he was involved in a road accident.

Adebisi stressed that investigating alleged crimes and determining the guilt or innocence of suspects remains the exclusive responsibility of the police and the courts. "Without ambiguity, jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime," she said.

She explained that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, guarantees fundamental rights including the right to life, dignity, liberty and fair hearing. According to her, Section 36 further guarantees the presumption of innocence, meaning suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. "Even if you believe that someone has committed a crime, you do not have the right to beat, torture, burn, stab or stone the person to death," she said.

The police spokesperson noted that the Lagos State Criminal Law also criminalises violence against persons, including assault, grievous harm and unlawful wounding, citing Sections 245 and 246 of the law, which specifically address grievous harm and unlawful wounding respectively.

Adebisi said the command would treat any case of jungle justice resulting in serious injury or death as a criminal offence. "If jungle justice leads to serious injury or wounding, the Lagos State Police Command will investigate it as a criminal offence. If jungle justice leads to the death of a person, we will investigate it as murder or manslaughter under the criminal law of Lagos State," she said.

She warned residents who take part in mob attacks that they themselves risk becoming suspects and facing criminal investigation. "If you join others in beating or killing a person because you believe that the person committed a crime, you may end up becoming a suspect yourself," she said.

Adebisi urged residents to alert the police and provide useful information to help apprehend suspects, rather than taking the law into their own hands. She also appealed to witnesses of mob attacks to seek immediate help and report such incidents, instead of merely recording them on their mobile phones. "Recording the incident does not replace your responsibility to seek help and report the matter. If you see a mob attacking a person, call the police immediately," she said.

The PPRO further urged residents not to encourage mob action, supply weapons, incite violence, or participate in attacks against suspected offenders, assuring the public that the command would handle every jungle justice case strictly in accordance with the law.

Adebisi added that the command, under Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani, remains committed to securing justice for victims and their families. She extended sympathy to families who have lost loved ones to jungle justice, assuring them that the police would pursue justice through lawful means.