NPF moves against jungle justice
…says it undermines rule of law
By Innocent Raphael
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the alarming trend of jungle justice across the country, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the administration of justice.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi made this known in a statement made public on Monday.
According to Adejobi, jungle justice undermines the fabric of a civilized society, perpetuating violence, prejudice, and lawlessness while weakening the authority of legitimate institutions and the rule of law.
In a recent incident reported to the Itire Divisional Police Headquarters in Lagos State on March 25, 2024, a man residing on Shonde Street raised an alarm upon discovering a group of hoodlums vandalizing his vehicle.
Subsequently, one of the vandals was apprehended, but shockingly, handed over to a security guard named Agunbiade Adekunle, who fatally assaulted and set ablaze the suspect. Adekunle has since been arrested and is set to face murder charges in court.
The statement also noted that while this incident wasn’t an isolated one, similar cases of jungle justice have been documented across Nigeria, posing significant obstacles to the proper investigation and prosecution of criminal activities.
He stated, “The Nigeria Police Force therefore condemns and urges the public to shun jungle justice, mob actions, and other forms of extrajudicial killings as jungle justice is a criminal act and grave violation of human rights that threatens the fabric of a civilized society, perpetuating a cycle of violence, prejudice, and lawlessness.”
Adejobi stressed the imperative for communities to reject vigilantism and uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and equality by ensuring that justice is served through fair and transparent legal processes.
He added that only through collective adherence to the rule of law can Nigeria truly combat the scourge of jungle justice and promote a society based on justice, peace, and accountability.
Jungle justice, a practice described as taking the law into one’s hands, has drawn widespread condemnation globally for impeding the proper functioning of the criminal justice system.
