Mob Justice Is Murder, Perpetrators Will Face Death Penalty — IGP

Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against taking the law into their own hands, declaring that anyone who kills a suspected criminal through mob action could face murder charges and the death penalty. Disu issued the warning in a video circulating on Tuesday, where he urged Nigerians to rely on the police, other security agencies and the courts rather than resorting to jungle justice. According to the police chief, Nigeria is governed by the rule of law and no individual, community or group has the authority to arrest, try, convict or execute another person. He said the constitutional rights to life, dignity and fair hearing apply to suspects as well as other citizens, stressing that an allegation does not amount to proof of guilt. Disu also cautioned Nigerians against treating social media posts, viral videos or accusations made by members of the public as sufficient grounds to punish an alleged offender. He said innocent people had continued to lose their lives because of rumours, mistaken identities and unverified allegations. The IGP specifically cited the March 2025 killing of travellers in Uromi, Edo State, as a painful example of the consequences of mob justice. Sixteen travellers were killed after they were intercepted and accused of being kidnappers. Police subsequently arrested suspects in connection with the incident. Disu warned that responsibility for mob violence would not be limited to those who physically kill a victim. He said people who plan, incite or encourage mob attacks, provide support to perpetrators, mobilise crowds or prevent security personnel from intervening could also face criminal prosecution. The police chief added that the police would use available evidence, including videos, eyewitness accounts and intelligence from communities and security personnel, to identify those involved in mob violence. He disclosed that he had directed commissioners of police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat cases of mob action as homicide and conduct full forensic and intelligence investigations. The warning comes amid renewed concerns over extrajudicial killings across the country, with the Uromi incident previously drawing condemnation from the Federal Government, lawmakers, religious organisations and other groups. The message from the police chief is clear: suspicion is not conviction, and no accusation — whether made on the street or amplified online — gives anyone the right to take another person's life. Nigerians are therefore urged to report suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities and allow investigations and the courts to determine guilt, rather than turning allegations into punishment.