Nigeria Police Force Set To Take Action Against Vigilante for Alleged Jungle Justice Killing in Lagos.

 The Nigeria Police Force announced that it will bring charges against vigilante Agunbiade Adekunle for allegedly killing a person who was turned over to him in the Itire neighbourhood of Lagos.

It was reported that on March 25, 2024, when the vandal was discovered, Agunbiade, the security guard at Shonde Street in the state's Itire district, turned to setting the burglar on fire.

In a statement, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, said that the security guard will face legal action for warning Nigerians against jungle justice.

He stated “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 vandalizing his vehicle and he raised an alarm which led to the arrest of one of the vandals.”

Adejobi went on to say that after turning the burglar over to Agunbiade Adekunle, the street's security guard, the suspect was killed by being set on fire. 

In his words; “The guard has 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.” 

The public was advised by the Police spokesperson to avoid extrajudicial killings, mob activities, and jungle justice.

Jungle justice, according to him, is an illegal practice that violates human rights seriously and jeopardises the foundations of civilization by fostering an environment that breeds hatred, violence, and anarchy.