Bauchi, August 20, 2024 – A tragic incident of mob justice has unfolded in Bauchi State, resulting in the deaths of two individuals suspected of involvement in a murder and armed robbery.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident, revealing that the suspects were arrested by police on Monday, August 19th, after being linked to the murder of a commercial motorcycle operator, Muhammad Mamuda Baba Jibir, on the previous day.
According to the police spokesperson, Ahmed Wakil, Jibir, known locally as Achaba, was found dead in Anguwan Agwaluma, Misau, with his motorcycle missing. Police investigations led to the arrest of two suspects, who were apprehended with the stolen motorcycle along the Misau-Kari road.
However, before police could transport the suspects to custody, a mob overpowered officers and took the suspects into their own hands. One of the suspects was burned to ashes, while the other was killed.
Commissioner of Police Auwal Mohammed condemned the mob’s actions, calling them “barbaric and inimical to the laws governing our dear country.” He emphasized that the police would not tolerate vigilante justice and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“Nobody has any right to treat a suspect in such a barbaric manner,” Mohammed stated. “It is wrong for anyone to assume the position of law enforcement agencies. The suspects apprehended in connection with the crime should be allowed to be duly investigated by the police or any other security agencies saddled with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute such suspects.”
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of mob justice in Nigeria, where anger and frustration over crime can lead to violent reprisals that undermine the rule of law. The police have vowed to investigate the incident and bring those responsible for the mob attack to justice.
