Aderemi Adeoye, the Anambra commissioner of police, has issued a warning to the people not to impose their own laws by practicing jungle justice.
According to Adeoye, the command would no longer support circumstances in which individuals practice “jungle justice” by lynching suspects to death without a court appearance.
The police commissioner said on Friday that those who commit crimes will face murder charges, according to a statement from the Police Public Relations Office, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga.
Any mob lynching of a criminal suspect, in his opinion, is bestial and worse than the victims.
According to the PPRO, two individuals have been detained on suspicion of being involved in a mob lynching that killed suspected criminals recently.
After stealing a phone, a mob kills the culprit. Three years in jail is the penalty for phone theft.
“People who carry out lynchings are guilty of murder, which is capital punishment because the judiciary has not authorized anyone else to try, convict, and execute suspects,” the speaker stated.
Adeoye congratulated the people of Anambra for their unwavering watchfulness and assistance in maintaining the state’s peace and security, but he also urged them to report any illegal activity to the police.
“If they do not receive justice, they should get in touch with my office directly,” he said.
“I promise the people of Anambra that the Command will never forget its duty to uphold law and order.
“Using self-help is not required, and it will not be accepted,” he continued.
In the meantime, a news statement issued earlier on Thursday by the state PPRO, DSP Ikenga, highlighted how a well-organized syndicate has exploited the unrest in certain areas of Anambra to defraud locals by threatening to kill them.
It said, “Two deadly syndicates that extorted money from gullible members of the public by threatening them with death have been busted by police in Ozubulu and Umunze towns in Anambra State.”
“After a thorough investigation, two suspects were apprehended at Umunze, Orumba South LGA Headquarters.”
NAN