Akwa Ibom’s Police boss condemns jungle justice, threatens prosecution of perpetrators

Following the incessant killings of perceived criminals in Akwa Ibom State, Amiengheme Andrew, the Commissioner of Police in the state has condemned the action, ordering that such people will be arrested and brought to justice.

According to a statement on Friday by the command’s spokesman, Odiko Macdon, the police boss lamented the torture to death of an innocent woman at Okpokpo Market, the lynching of an innocent man, and the recent brutal murder of two young men, all under false allegations, warning that such acts have no place in criminal justice administration and therefore unacceptable.

“A few months back, the social media was agog with the news that an innocent woman was wrongly tortured to death, leaving her two weeks old baby helpless on a false allegation that she stole N2,000 at the popular Okpokpo’ Market.

“Only last week, at Ebong Essien by Ikpa Road, a young man was lynched because of an allegation that he stole.

“Two days back, December 8th, 2021, two young men, alleged to have attempted robbing a POS attendant at Ikot Oku Ikono, close to the timber market, just after the flyover, were killed and burnt by an angry mob.

“Such acts are a travesty of justice, capable of derailing public order and are totally unacceptable as it has no place in our criminal justice administration. For the avoidance of doubt, the rights to life and fair hearing are enshrined in Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and are inalienable rights, hence, should be respected by all at all times.

“This trend is totally unacceptable. He has therefore ordered that perpetrators of such acts be apprehended and made to face justice,” the CP said.

Macdon, who called on the youths to desist from taking the laws into their hands, also reiterated the commitment of the command to prosecute any criminal arrested and handed over to the command.