Ondo CP Ohagwu warns against jungle justice, ‘trial by social media’

The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, has warned residents against jungle justice and trial by social media, describing both as criminal offences punishable under Nigerian law following the arrest of four persons over the alleged assault of a man accused of making a fake bank transfer.

Ohagwu urged members of the public to report suspected offenders to the police instead of taking the law into their own hands, stressing that assault, cyberbullying, defamatory publications and social media prosecution have no place in a lawful society.

His warning came after the arrest of four suspects accused of assaulting and publicly humiliating a resident whose video was recorded and circulated online over allegations that he made a fraudulent N50,000 bank transfer.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the victim, Boluwaji Temidayo, reported the incident at the Okuta Elerinla Police Station on Thursday, alleging that he was attacked on July 21 before the video of the assault was shared across social media platforms.

According to Jimoh, police operatives deployed digital intelligence to track those involved in both the assault and the online circulation of the video, leading to the arrest of four suspects.

The suspects were identified as Gbemisola Ariyo, Babatunde Eniola, Adams Tobiloba and Fasusi Bunmi, who are currently in police custody and have made useful confessional statements, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other alleged accomplices.

Jimoh said investigations into the allegation of a fake bank transfer are still ongoing, adding that anyone found culpable at the end of the investigation would be charged to court in accordance with the law.

The police command also condemned the growing trend of jungle justice and the public humiliation of suspects, reiterating that no individual has the legal authority to punish anyone outside the judicial process.