‘Lynching carries death penalty’ — police warn Anambra residents against jungle justice

Aderemi Adeoye, the Anambra state commissioner of police, has cautioned residents against taking laws into their own hands in the event of a crime.

In a statement issued on Friday by Toochukwu Ikenga, the command’s public relations officer, Adeoye said his leadership would no longer condone scenarios where people engage in jungle justice by lynching suspects without trial.

Adeoye said perpetrators of lynching would be charged with murder.

He described mob lynching of crime suspects as “bestial and worse than their victims”.

Adeoye said two persons have been arrested for involvement in a recent mob action that resulted in the death of suspected criminals.

“Someone steals a phone and a mob kills him. The sentence for stealing a phone is three years imprisonment,” NAN quoted Adeoye as saying. 

“Those who lynch commit murder which carries the death penalty because the courts have not delegated anyone outside the judiciary to try, convict and execute suspects.”

Adeoye commended Anambra residents for their vigilance and cooperation for the peace and security of the state.

He also urged them to report every crime to the police.

“Whoever does not get justice should contact my office directly,” he added. 

“I assure the people of Anambra that the command will always be alive to its responsibility in maintaining law and order.

“Recourse to self-help is not necessary and will not be tolerated.”