Afrigather 
Abia Commissioner of Police Mr Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has revealed that 12 folks had been killed in 9 incidents of mob motion recorded in varied components of the state between January 1 and October 13, this yr.
Onwuemelie spoke throughout a courtesy go to to Okey Kanu, Abia Commissioner for Info and Tradition on the state secretariat on Friday.
Whereas condemning the prevalence of mob motion within the state, Onwuemelie emphasised that the legislation presumes a person harmless till confirmed in any other case by a court docket of competent jurisdiction, due to this fact it might be illegal to topic anybody to mob justice for no matter causes.
He mentioned that mob justice had develop into an unsightly pattern which have to be stopped, including that it needs to be remarkable that folks engaged in mob justice.
“It’s barbaric for us as civilised individuals residing inside the South-East and Nigeria to be taking the legislation into our fingers underneath such circumstances as there are a number of implications and penalties.
“These perpetrating such acts are perpetrating extra heinous offences and crime than the folks they’re supposedly accusing of crimes.
“Past this, folks can leverage on mob motion to unduly go to terror on their supposed enemies or victimise their rivals,” Onwuemelie mentioned.
He mentioned that the go to to the ministry was knowledgeable by the choice to accomplice the federal government to deal with the social downside.
“We have now realized that info is a robust software and it should successfully be deployed ethically and professionally for the good thing about the society, therefore the necessity to work with the ministry,” Onwuemelie mentioned.
In his response, Kanu mentioned that mob justice may very well be finest described as a barbaric act which doesn’t current the folks of Abia in good gentle, due to this fact needs to be shunned by all means.
“Please, we’re good folks; we’re civilised people and mustn’t go in the way in which of such savagery,” Kanu added.
He mentioned that the federal government and folks of Abia should put heads collectively to nip such barbaric acts within the bud.
“I need to advise the folks of Abia, as a result of given the statistics reeled out by the Commissioner of Police, we will see that it’s a rising pattern and it’s a harmful one.
“Individuals can use mob justice to settle scores with their political opponents and enemies.
“For no matter it’s price, as a substitute of mob motion search for the closest police station to report,” Kanu mentioned.
He additionally urged the folks of Abia to ignore pretend information, as a result of circulating pretend information and unverified info may do extra hurt than good to members of the society.
In response to him, “safety points are delicate” , which raises the necessity for related authorities to utilise structured and effectively managed info to handle safety points.
He, additional, expressed the willingness of the state authorities to collaborate with the Police to make sure that peace and stability can be maintained within the state.
“We’ll collaborate with you and provide you with all of the help you should succeed within the state,” Kanu added.
