The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Wednesday, 23 May 2018 urged the Nigerian Police Force and other security Agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of mob killings across the Federation.
Presenting the motion on the floor of the House, Hon. Ezekiel A. Adaji (PDP: Benue) stated that the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy were anchored on respect for the rule of law, constitutionalism, order, justice and fairness. He also stated that there were sufficient laws empowering law enforcement agencies to ensure the fundamental human rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution and other international laws were protected.
Speaking further, he stated that the recurrent mob killings were the consequences of a failed criminal justice system and the failure of the implementers of the law to apply equal standards to all erring offenders. He also berated criminal justice institutions and agencies for failing to deter and punish those who engaged in heinous practice stating that their failure to do so had led to the wide acceptance of jungle justice by members of the public in their bid to exact vengeance.
In addition, he drew attention to an Amnesty International report indicating an upsurge in extra judicial killings. The report states that 29 Nigerians died from extra judicial killings in the period of 1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018. He also blamed the rising number of persons who had died from mob attacks to the unchecked practices by perpetrated by law enforcement agencies who were also guilty of extra judicial killings of persons in their custody. He alluded that the practice was widely tolerated in the Nigerian Police Force he then called on lawmakers to readdress the outlined issues before Nigeria faced full-blown anarchy.
The House also urged the various Courts in Nigeria to treat criminal cases timeously and punish all offenders in accordance with the law. The committees on Police Affairs, Federal Judiciary and Justice were mandated to ensure full compliance of its resolutions.
