A Warning Against Extrajudicial Killings

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has declared that Nigeria operates under the rule of law and not mob rule, warning that anyone involved in jungle justice will face arrest and prosecution. Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Disu described jungle justice as murder and urged Nigerians to stop taking the law into their own hands, stressing that only a competent court could determine the guilt of a suspect.

The IGP emphasized that no individual, community, or group possesses the constitutional authority to try, sentence, or execute another person. He warned that the Nigeria Police Force would treat mob killings as serious criminal offences rather than spontaneous acts of public anger.

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.

— Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force

Constitutional Protections and Due Process

IGP Disu highlighted that Sections 33, 34, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, guarantee every Nigerian—including criminal suspects—the rights to life, dignity, and a fair hearing. He cautioned that allegations, rumours, viral videos, or public accusations do not constitute sufficient grounds for killing a suspect.

The police chief expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of extrajudicial killings based on suspicion, citing tragedies involving students accused of theft and victims of mistaken identity. He specifically referenced the lynching of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo State, in March 2025, as a painful reminder of the consequences of mob action.

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.

— Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force

Broad Liability for Mob Participants

Criminal liability for jungle justice will extend beyond the individuals who inflict fatal injuries. The IGP clarified that persons who plan, incite, encourage, or support mob action will also be prosecuted. This includes those who film incidents, circulate videos, mobilise crowds, or prevent security personnel from rescuing victims.

It is not only the person who strikes the fatal blow or the person who uses a cutlass to cut the victim. 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.

— Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force

Disu has directed Commissioners of Police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to treat every case of mob action as a homicide. The police intend to use forensic and intelligence-based methods, including video evidence and community intelligence, to identify and prosecute every participant established to have taken part in unlawful killings.

Accountability for Security Personnel

The directive also places a heavy burden of responsibility on law enforcement. IGP Disu warned that police officers and other security personnel who fail to intervene during mob attacks or deliberately look away will face disciplinary action. He stressed that the protection of life is a mandatory requirement for all uniformed officers.

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

— Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force