Akwa Ibom State police command has condemned the increase in cases of killing of perceived perpetrators of crimes in the state, saying it is a ‘Travesty of Justice’.
This came at the wake of killing of two suspected thieves who robbed a Point of Sales operator at Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, the state capital.
Recall that there was a case of two suspects lynched in Uyo, the state capital who tried to rob a POS attendant but ran out of luck as their motorcycle refused to start which made angry youths within to apprehend them, set them ablaze immediately before police operatives arrived the scene.
In a statement signed by the command Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon and presented to journalists in Uyo on Friday, the police frowned at instances of people taking laws in their hands without handing over suspects to relevant authorities.
He noted that such could lead to killing of an innocent person while recalling the incident of a nursing mother of two weeks old baby who was falsely accused of stealing N2000 at the popular ‘Urua Okpokpo’ Market, Uyo.
The lady was beaten to death by the youths but the woman (Garri seller) who accused her of stealing the money later found the money where she put it inside a heap of Garri, then it was late as the victim has already died.
The statement added that the commissioner has ordered the arrest of perpetrators of jungle justice in the state.
The statement in parts, “The Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State, *CP AMIENGHEME ANDREW, psc(+), fdc* has decried the incessant unnecessary killings of perceived perpetrators of crimes in the state.
Such acts are travesty of justice, capable of detailing 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.
“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 two (2000) thousand naira at the popular ‘Urua 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 angry mob. This trend, the Commissioner of Police notes is totally unacceptable. He has therefore ordered that perpetrators of such acts be apprehended and made to face justice.
“The Command wishes to state that it is committed to prosecuting any criminal arrested and handed over to her, and is calling on youths to desist from taking laws into their hands whenever incidents of such nature happens or be willing to face the legal consequences thereafter.”
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