Following the killing of a 35-year-old suspected internet fraudster in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Monday, the Ondo state government has cautioned members of the public to desist from taking laws into their hands by applying jungle justice on people suspected of crime or carrying out vengeance against their fellow beings.
The Acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by the state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said the state government would not fold its arms and watch some miscreants undermine law and order in the state.
The statement read that: the attention of the Ondo State Government has been drawn to a disturbing recourse to jungle justice by the public.
“This is especially true when citizens are attacked, and killed, based on one flimsy excuse or the other, especially on allegations of Internet scam, laced with ritual killing, commonly referred to as Yahoo Plus.
“The Ag. Governor, Ayedatiwa has expressed shock and disbelief, on the recent mob attack that led to the stoning to death of 35-year old Tope Olorunfemi at Ijoka Area of Akure.
“The young man, riding in a Toyota car, reportedly ran into a motorcyclist and his passenger, resulting in some fatalities.The government condemns in strong terms the incident and said all those found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of law.
“While government does not condone criminality in whatever guise, it also does not subscribe to people taking laws into their hands.
” It was reported, that the quick intervention of law enforcement agents, saved the parents of the deceased from suffering the same fate as their son. Sadly, they watched in horror and total helplessness as their son was pummeled to death.
Ayedatiwa however, urged the people of the state to have trust in the rule of law, “as government will not condone any form of mob action and hooliganism in the administration of Justice in Ondo State.
“The government is saddened by this development and commiserates with all the families that lost their loved ones as a result of this incident while praying for quick recovery for those that sustained injuries”
Meanwhile, Police from Ondo command have arrested two suspects over their alleged involvement in the lynching of a 35-year-old, Tope Olorunfemi, who crushed some two people to death in Akure on Monday.
Olorunfemi was alleged of reckless driving, leading to the death of the two people and six others injured in the crash while the late Olorunfemi was mobbed by the people in the area and his car set ablaze.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Funmi Odunlami, who confirmed the arrest of the two people, disclosed that detectives from the state police command arrested the suspects over their allegedly involvement in the jungle justice meted out on Olorunfemi.
Odunlami said that one of the two arrested suspects allegedly masterminded the burning of the vehicle belonging to the 35-year-old Olorunfemi and will be arraigned in court soon.
She said that the suspects would be charged to court for murder and arson, while the PPRO appealed to members of the public never to take laws into their hands.
“We need to see ourselves as one and love each other. We should first see ourselves as human beings before becoming either a commercial motorcyclist, policeman or any other professionals.
“As of now, no one can confirm if the dead young man in question was an internet fraudster. Rather than people around to have helped when the accident happened, some resolved to jungle justice by killing the young man and setting his car ablaze.
“We need to refrain from engaging in jungle justice, shun hearsay and report any incident to nearby police station so that there will be peace in our community,” she said.
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