Last week, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, directed state police commands across Nigeria to treat every case of mob action as homicide, warning that anyone involved in jungle justice will face criminal prosecution.
Disu said the directive applies not only to those who physically assault or kill suspects, but also to individuals who organise, encourage or facilitate mob attacks.
The police chief’s warning followed a series of disturbing videos of alleged mob attacks circulating on social media, amid concerns over the continued prevalence of extrajudicial killings across the country.
He added that those who video the event and circulate them, and those who mobilize the crowd, or those who block the police from intervening, are liable.
Disu said Nigerian law provides for severe penalties for murder, citing Section 319 of the Criminal Code and Section 221 of the Penal Code. He also warned that criminal liability could extend to people who help organise or facilitate mob violence under Section 516 of the Criminal Code.
