The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has strongly condemned the violent mob action carried out against a group of travellers by a local vigilante group along the Uromi-Obajana Road in Edo State, which led to the death of the travellers.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the statement, “the IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), DIG Sadiq Abubakar, to take over the case and ensure a thorough, impartial, and expedited investigation.

“The IGP assured the public that the Nigeria Police Force remained committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any form of unlawful killings or extrajudicial actions under any guise.

“The group of individuals, who were travelling in a truck and claimed to be hunters, were found in possession of nineteen (19) locally fabricated firearms when intercepted by the vigilantes, who, not satisfied with the excuse of being hunters to be in possession of such a number of arms, concluded they were kidnappers.

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“Regrettably, without allowing for due process or proper investigation into their claims, the vigilante group subjected some of them to unlawful mob justice, resulting in tragic consequences.

“In immediate response, the Edo State Police Command deployed operatives to the affected community, restoring law and order. So far, fourteen (14) suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, while a manhunt has been launched for other perpetrators involved in the mob action.”

The statement added that the IGP further appealed for calm and urged members of the public to cooperate fully with the investigation, assuring that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

Additionally, while condemning the resort to jungle justice, the Nigeria Police Force reiterated that the unlawful possession of firearms remained a criminal offence under Nigerian law and advised individuals in possession of unlicensed firearms to report to the nearest police station to surrender such weapons or initiate the appropriate licensing process.

The Force warned the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands and encouraged the prompt reporting of suspicious activities to lawful authorities.

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