The Cross River State Police Command has warned residents against taking the law into their own hands following the mob killing of a suspected burglar in Calabar South.
The incident occurred on Friday along Ikom Street, where a middle-aged man, whose identity had yet to be established at press time, was allegedly beaten to death by an angry mob.
The deceased was reportedly caught after allegedly breaking into a woman’s residence in the early hours of Friday with the intention of stealing and sexually assaulting her.
Her cries for help attracted neighbours and other tenants, who apprehended the suspect, dragged him into the street and assaulted him until he died.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, condemned the act, stressing that mob justice remains unlawful and undermines due process.
He urged members of the public to hand over suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution instead of resorting to violence.
“What if the person killed was not the actual perpetrator but a victim of mistaken identity? By the time the truth emerges, it would already be too late. Many innocent persons have fallen victim to jungle justice.
“The public must desist from such unlawful acts,” Akata said.
The police spokesman disclosed that the command would intensify public sensitisation campaigns across the state to educate residents on the dangers and legal consequences of jungle justice, while urging citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in tackling crime through lawful means.
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