The Lagos State Police Command has warned residents against resorting to jungle justice following the mob killing of a man identified as Basit in Lagos Island, barely two weeks before his wedding.
DAILY POST reports that the deceased was reportedly beaten to death by a mob in the Patey area of Lagos Island after his vehicle struck a male pedestrian attempting to cross the road on Wednesday night, September 2, 2026.
Basit was said to have recently returned to Nigeria from abroad ahead of his wedding.
The incident has led to the arrest of some suspects by the police, according to reports.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, issued a strong warning against mob justice in a video statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.
Adebisi described jungle justice as a criminal act, stressing that mob action resulting in the death of a person could amount to murder or manslaughter.
“Without ambiguity, jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime,” she said.
The police spokesperson said the responsibility for investigating alleged offences and determining whether a suspect is guilty or innocent rests with law enforcement agencies and the courts.
She noted that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, protects fundamental rights, including the rights to life, dignity, liberty and fair hearing.
According to her, Section 36 of the Constitution also guarantees the presumption of innocence, meaning that a person accused of an offence remains innocent until convicted by a competent court.
“Even if you believe that someone has committed a crime, you do not have the right to beat, torture, burn, stab or stone the person to death,” Adebisi said.
She further explained that the Lagos State Criminal Law criminalises acts of violence against persons, including assault, grievous harm and unlawful wounding.
Adebisi specifically cited Sections 245 and 246 of the law, which deal with grievous harm and unlawful wounding respectively.
She warned that the police would treat cases of jungle justice that result in serious injuries or death as criminal offences.
“If jungle justice leads to serious injury or wounding, the Lagos State Police Command will investigate it as a criminal offence.
“If jungle justice leads to the death of a person, we will investigate it as murder or manslaughter under the criminal law of Lagos State,” she said.
The PPRO also cautioned residents who participate in mob attacks that they could become suspects in the same criminal investigation.
“If you join others in beating or killing a person because you believe that the person committed a crime, you may end up becoming a suspect yourself,” she said.
Adebisi urged residents to contact the police whenever they witness suspected criminal activity, provide relevant information and assist authorities in preventing suspects from escaping instead of taking the law into their own hands.
She particularly appealed to witnesses of mob attacks not to remain passive or merely record such incidents with their mobile phones.
“Recording the incident does not replace your responsibility to seek help and report the matter. If you see a mob attacking a person, call the police immediately,” she said.
The police spokesperson also advised residents against encouraging mob action, supplying weapons, inciting violence or joining attacks on suspected offenders.
She assured Lagos residents that the command would investigate cases of jungle justice and ensure that those responsible face the law.
Adebisi said the command, under the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, remained committed to securing justice for victims and their families.
She expressed sympathy to families who had lost loved ones to mob violence, assuring them that the police would continue to pursue justice through lawful means.
