Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, has strongly condemned the brutal mob action carried out by a local vigilante group against a group of travelers along the Uromi-Obajana Road in Edo State.
The incident occurred when the vigilantes intercepted a truck carrying individuals who claimed to be hunters.
According to him, the group was found in possession of 19 locally fabricated firearms. Unsatisfied with their explanation, the vigilantes accused them of being kidnappers and took matters into their own hands, resorting to unlawful mob justice without allowing for due process or a proper investigation.
In response to the incident, the Edo State Police Command swiftly deployed operatives to the affected community to restore peace and order. Fourteen suspects have already been arrested, while a manhunt is underway to apprehend other perpetrators involved in the violent act.
The IGP has directed Sadiq Abubakar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), to take over the investigation and ensure a thorough, impartial, and swift inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any form of extrajudicial killings or mob justice.
Egbetokun appealed for calm among the public and called for cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
He also warned against unlawful possession of firearms, stressing that it remains a criminal offense under Nigerian law. The Police Force urged anyone in possession of unlicensed weapons to surrender them at the nearest police station or follow the proper licensing procedure.
While emphasizing the importance of reporting suspicious activities to lawful authorities, the IGP cautioned the public against taking the law into their own hands, warning that those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement issued from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
