Abia State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has revealed that, from January 1 to October 13 this year, the state has witnessed nine separate incidents of mob action, resulting in the tragic deaths of 12 individuals.
Onwuemelie conveyed this troubling information during a courtesy visit to Okey Kanu, Abia Commissioner for Information and Culture, at the state secretariat on a Friday.
Addressing the disconcerting prevalence of mob justice within the state, Onwuemelie strongly emphasized that, according to the law, an individual is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a competent court. Consequently, subjecting anyone to mob justice, irrespective of the circumstances, is unlawful.
Expressing profound concern over the escalating instances of mob justice, Onwuemelie underscored that it should have no place in a civilized society. He noted that those engaging in mob justice are, in fact, committing more grievous offenses and crimes than the individuals they accuse.
Furthermore, Onwuemelie pointed out that mob justice can be exploited to unleash terror upon perceived adversaries or to target rivals. To address this pressing issue, he expressed his intention to collaborate with the government to raise awareness regarding the dire consequences of mob action.
In response, Okey Kanu articulated the barbaric nature of mob justice and urged its complete rejection by the people of Abia. He encouraged citizens to turn to legal avenues and report incidents to the nearest police station instead of resorting to vigilante justice.
Kanu also stressed the importance of disregarding false information, particularly in security matters, as unverified data can lead to significant harm. He expressed the government’s readiness to cooperate with the police to ensure peace and stability in the state and assured them of their full support.
