The inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has condemned the killing of Police DPO and police officers in Edo and Lagos States by the mob, stating that jungle justice has no place in our laws.
Angry members of the community in Agenebode, Etsako East local government area of Edo State, had on Sunday, October 13, 2024, attacked the Police division in the community, killing police officers and all suspects in the Police cell before setting the police division ablaze.
Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement that “given the recent spate of jungle justice in some parts of the country, the Nigeria Police Force has condemned the dangerous and disgusting trend and cautioned the general public on the consequences of such on our criminal justice administration, the rule of law and the global reputation of our dear country.
“The Police Force reiterates that jungle justice, a deplorable and savage behaviour, has led to the tragic loss of lives and destruction of property across the country. This inhuman act is a betrayal of justice and due process, undermining the rule of law, fundamental principles and ideals of human rights, and justice.
“In the same instance, the Police condemns explicitly the act of arson which led to the death by burning of some suspects in police custody, and the subsequent setting ablaze of police barracks, patrol vans and the Divisional Police Station in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State on Sunday, 13th of October 2024.
“In the above case, members of the public alleged that the police were trying to pervert justice by taking into custody some suspected kidnappers and armed robbers who have been accused of terrorising the people of the community in Edo State. The main suspect was arrested and almost lynched by the community members before the police rescued him. His arrest led the police to arrest three additional suspects. The rescue and detention of the suspects didn’t go down well with the community members who later mobilised in large numbers and attacked the police station, killed the suspects by burning, and scorched down the station and properties therein.”
The police further stated that “the erroneous perception of the community members that the police would set free the suspects were wrong and quite unfair, as the police never intended to pervert justice in the case, more so that they have through painstaking investigation arrested three other suspects fingered in the criminal act.”
In another development, a police team trying to prevent the execution of jungle justice was gruesomely attacked, which led to the killing of a police officer, ASP Augustine Osupayi, attached to the Lagos State Command, by a group of violent mob on Saturday, 19th of October 2024, in Agege, Lagos State.
“The police team had raced down to the rescue of a driver who was alleged to have accidentally knocked down a motorcycle rider to death. The group of motorcycle riders pounced on the driver, who was eventually rescued by the police. The rescue didn’t go down well with the riders, who descended on the police team and, unfortunately, killed the ASP instantly. These are very few cases out of many incidences recorded across the country,” the Force PRO stated.
