Lagos Police Warn Against Jungle Justice After Man Was Beaten To Death
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Lagos State Police Command has warned residents against taking the law into their own hands following the death of a man identified as Basit, who was reportedly beaten to death by a mob in Lagos Island just two weeks before his wedding.
Basit was allegedly attacked in the Patey area of Lagos Island after his vehicle struck a male pedestrian attempting to cross the road on Wednesday night, September 2, 2026.
He had reportedly recently returned to Nigeria from abroad ahead of his wedding.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over the danger of jungle justice, with the police warning that people who participate in mob attacks could themselves face criminal investigation and prosecution.
Some suspects have reportedly been arrested in connection with Basit’s death.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos Police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, in a video message made available to journalists on Tuesday, said mob action was not an alternative to the justice system.
“Without ambiguity, jungle justice is murder. It is not justice. It is a crime,” Adebisi said.
She reminded Lagos residents that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, protects fundamental rights including the right to life, dignity, liberty and fair hearing.
According to her, Section 36 of the Constitution also guarantees the presumption of innocence, meaning that anyone accused of committing an offence remains innocent until found guilty by a competent court.
“Even if you believe that someone has committed a crime, you do not have the right to beat, torture, burn, stab or stone the person to death,” she said.
The police spokesperson explained that the Lagos State Criminal Law also criminalises different forms of violence against persons, including assault, grievous harm and unlawful wounding.
She cited Sections 245 and 246 of the law, which deal with grievous harm and unlawful wounding respectively.
Adebisi said the police would treat cases of jungle justice resulting in serious injury or death as criminal matters.
“If jungle justice leads to serious injury or wounding, the Lagos State Police Command will investigate it as a criminal offence.
“If jungle justice leads to the death of a person, we will investigate it as murder or manslaughter under the criminal law of Lagos State,” she said.
She warned that residents who join mobs to attack suspected criminals could quickly move from being bystanders to suspects themselves.
“If you join others in beating or killing a person because you believe that the person committed a crime, you may end up becoming a suspect yourself,” Adebisi said.
The Command urged residents who witness crimes to contact the police and provide information that could assist investigators rather than attempting to punish suspects themselves.
Adebisi also appealed to members of the public not to stand by and simply record mob attacks with their phones.
“Recording the incident does not replace your responsibility to seek help and report the matter. If you see a mob attacking a person, call the police immediately,” she said.
She warned residents against encouraging mob violence, providing weapons, inciting attacks or participating in assaults against people suspected of committing crimes.
The police spokesperson assured residents that the Command would investigate cases of jungle justice and pursue them in accordance with the law.
She also sympathised with families who have lost loved ones to mob violence, assuring them that the Lagos Police Command, under Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani, remained committed to pursuing justice for victims and their families.
Basit’s death has once again highlighted the devastating consequences of mob action, where an allegation or road incident can quickly turn into a fatal attack before the police or courts have an opportunity to establish what actually happened.
The police message is clear: an alleged offender is not a convicted criminal, and the punishment for an offence cannot be determined by a crowd on the street.
