The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against mob justice, saying anyone who kills a suspected criminal outside the law is guilty of murder.
Speaking on the dangers of mob action in a video which started trending on Tuesday, the IG stressed that Nigeria operates under the rule of law and not “mob rule”, urging citizens to allow security agencies and the courts to handle allegations of crime.
“Nigeria operates under the rule of law, not mob rule. No citizen, no community, no group has the right to try, sentence or execute another person,” he said.
According to him, Sections 33, 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution guarantee every Nigerian, including suspects, the rights to life, dignity and fair hearing.
“No mob action. Mob action violates the victim’s right to life, to dignity and fair hearing. The law presumes everybody innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
The police chief warned that allegations circulating on social media or videos of alleged criminal activity do not constitute evidence sufficient for anyone to take the law into their own hands.
“In a court of law, not in the streets, not by a mob, not by a phone video because you saw him in video. Innocent people are dying daily on mere suspicion, on just mere suspicion,” he said.
He cited cases of students allegedly lynched over phone theft allegations, travellers killed over mistaken identity and young people murdered following rumours of blasphemy or ritual killings.
The IG also referred to the March 2025 lynching of 16 travellers in Uromi, Edo State, describing the incident as a serious reminder of the dangers of mob justice.
“That single incident should haunt every Nigerian every day. Just a rumour, shout of ‘thief, thief, thief’ or viral video, none of that is evidence. Listen, none of them is evidence,” he said.
“None of that gives anybody the right to take another person’s life.”
Disu warned that those who kill suspected criminals could face murder charges.
“Anybody who assaults or summarily executes a suspected criminal, you kill a suspected criminal, you are guilty of murder which is punishable by death,” he said, citing provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code.
He further warned that criminal liability could extend beyond those who physically attack or kill victims.
“It is not only the person who strikes that victim. It is not the only person who uses cutlass to cut the person,” he said.
According to him, people who plan, incite or encourage mob action could also face prosecution.
“Anybody who plans, incites or encourages the mob, you support them, you give them all the support, even without laying a hand on the victim is criminally liable,” he said.
He added that those who share or encourage such acts could face conspiracy charges, while people who film incidents, circulate videos, mobilise crowds or prevent security personnel from intervening could also attract criminal charges.
The IG said he had directed commissioners of police across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to treat every case of mob action as homicide.
“I have directed all commissioners of police across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT to treat every case of mob action as homicide and they should investigate it like that. Full forensic and intelligence follow-up,” he said.
He stressed that the police would pursue everyone identified as having participated in mob violence.
“No exception. No exception. We will identify, arrest and prosecute not just the ringleaders, not just the ringleaders, but everybody available, everybody we can identify who took part in it,” he said.
He added that investigators would rely on video evidence, eyewitness accounts, community intelligence and information from security personnel to identify those involved.
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