The Nigeria Police Force has said it would prosecute a security guard, Agunbiade Adekunle, for killing and setting ablaze a car vandal handed over to him in the Itire area of Lagos.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a Monday statement advising Nigerians against jungle justice.
“It is pertinent to understand that the act of taking the law into one’s hands has often been described and referred to as jungle justice. The act has globally been condemned for many obvious reasons, particularly as a parasitic hindrance to strengthening the criminal justice system.
“For instance, police operatives attached to the Itire Divisional Police Headquarters of Lagos State on the 25th of March 2024 received a report from a man who resides along Shonde Street, Itire, that a group of hoodlums were vandalising his vehicle and he raised an alarm which led to the arrest of one of the vandals.
“He further added that the vandal was handed over to one Agunbiade Adekunle ‘m’, the security guard of the street, who then resorted to killing and setting the vandal ablaze.
“The guard has, however, been arrested and will be charged to court for murder.
“There are other similar cases recorded across the country that have been condemned and hindered the smooth investigation and prosecution of many cases,” Adejobi said.
Adejobi said the Nigeria Police Force urged the public to shun jungle justice, mob actions, and other forms of extrajudicial killings.
He reiterated that jungle justice is a criminal act and a grave violation of human rights that threatens the fabric of a civilised society, perpetuating a cycle of violence, prejudice, and lawlessness.