Lagos State Government in southwest Nigeria has issued a strong warning to residents who may be tempted to deliver instant punishment or jungle justice by lynching, burning or killing suspected criminals.

Ipaye

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, warned that full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone caught engaging in jungle justice, no matter what the alleged criminal could have done.

He noted that anybody caught beating, burning or killing any suspect whether alone or in a mob is himself engaging in a serious criminal act and is liable to prosecution and punishment.

The Lagos Attorney-General noted that this warning became important following press reports that some people were attacked in the state based on mere allegations of kidnapping, stealing or ritual killing.

Ipaye said that the State Government totally condemned these attacks, adding that the suspects might easily have been wrongly accused.

“Even if they did commit the alleged offence, there is a process for prosecuting and showing the evidence in court so that proven criminals can be properly,” he said.