Mob justice is barbaric, stop it, says Adejobi

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, has completely condemned mob justice, emphasising its negative impact on the country’s justice system.

“It is regularly referred to as jungle justice in Nigeria. The warning is not enough; those who engage in mob justice should face the full wrath of the law.

“Mob justice affects the effective administration of justice, which is detrimental to the smooth dispensation of justice in the country” Adejobi said.

Taking the law into one’s hands is referred to as mob justice. The act has globally been condemned for obvious reasons. It can affect the innocent. Mob justice remains a prevalent and concerning phenomenon in Nigeria, where individuals suspected of committing crimes are subjected to violence, lynching, or extrajudicial punishment by a mob.

The Nigeria Police Force said there were over 100 reported cases of mob justice in 2020.

On March 25, police officers attached to the Itire Divisional Police Headquarters, Lagos, received a report from a man who resided at Itire Street, that a group of hoodlums was vandalising his vehicle. His alarm led to the arrest of one of the vandals. The vandal was handed over to a security guard on the street, who reportedly set the vandal ablaze. This is barbaric.

“It is good that the said guard has been arrested. He must be made to face the full length of the law.

There are similar cases across the country that have hindered the smooth investigation and prosecution of many cases.

On Tuesday in Lagos, the police arrived at the nick of time to rescue two suspected street robbers, who dispossessed a lady of her phone in the night at Bode Thomas, Surulere.