The Nigeria Police Force has described jungle justice as a crime following Monday’s mob assault on a US-based medical doctor who was wrongly accused of kidnapping.
The Force Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, condemned the incident in a statement posted on his X handle, @aleeygiwa, on Thursday.
He advised the public to verify information and report suspicious activities to the police instead of resorting to self-help.
“Jungle justice is not justice; it is a crime.
“Always check the facts before reacting and report to the police before taking any action.
“An innocent man was almost lynched, and his car was burnt, all because of an assumption,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened around the 2nd Powerline Area, Ologuneru, Eleyele-Ido Road, Ibadan, at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Giwa explained that an enraged crowd, believing the doctor had kidnapped two young girls found inside his Lexus 330 SUV, forcefully removed him from the vehicle and brutally attacked him.
According to him, the mob later set the SUV on fire.
He stated that investigations later confirmed the accusations were untrue and stemmed from misunderstanding and assumptions.
“Preliminary findings showed that the two girls, aged 15 and 12, were legally under the care of the doctor and were being taken to assist his mother with domestic chores.
“Their guardian confirmed the arrangement to investigators, while the girls also corroborated the doctor’s explanation,” he said.
He added that the situation worsened because the girls could not speak the local language, while the doctor was unable to clarify the circumstances quickly before the mob became violent.
Giwa noted that the swift response of officers from the Oyo State Police Command prevented the doctor from being killed, stressing that the attack occurred because people failed to verify the facts.
