Police issue warning against jungle justice following the lynching of suspected motorcycle thief in Abia

The Abia State Police Command has cautioned against lynching suspected criminals and instead suggests reporting them for investigation. The command has reinforced this warning against any kind of jungle justice in any region of the State.

Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), called for a radio sensitization programme in response to reports of jungle justice in some parts of the state. Specifically, she was reacting to the lynching of a man named Ikechi Kalu, who was allegedly involved in motorcycle theft in one of the clans of the Arochukwu LGA of the state.

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The deceased Kalu, who was claimed to be a single father, was accused in November of robbing another man of his motorcycle. As a result, some young people allegedly arrested and “convicted” him of the crime before setting him on fire with tyres.

The victim of jungle justice was assaulted and then set on fire in a purported video of the lynching that went viral online.

Chinaka asked people living in Abia to report any suspected criminals or accused lawbreakers, and she gave the police permission to handle the situation legally.

She went on to claim that more people would be detained after some of those who engaged in jungle justice had already been taken into custody.