Don’t Resort To Jungle Justice – DPO Admonishes Public

By Murtala Agboola

The Divisional Police Officer of the Ataoja Police Station, Osogbo, Mr. Banawi Ishaku, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) has cautioned members of the public to refrain from resorting to jungle justice to solve any seeming crime committed by anybody.

Ishaku who was recently transferred to the Police Division spoke through the District Crime Officer, (DCO) DSP Emmanuel Adeniran at the monthly meeting of the Divisional Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) at Ataoja Estate, Osogbo recently.

Ishaku referred to an incident at the Ogo-Oluwa area of the state capital recently where a police officer attached to a branch of the Diamond Bank PLC was mistakenly attacked by a mob.

In his narration, the police Chief stated that the policeman who only crossed over to the other side of the road to procure recharge card for his phone was shouted at as a thief because a motorcyclist who chose to take one way was hit by a vehicle.

Unknown to the motorcyclist an oncoming vehicle was racing down in his direction and hit him so the lookers thought it was the policeman that caused the accident because he chased the motorcyclist.

Passersby and onlookers shouted thief, thief on the police officer and was attacked before the patrol van of the Ataoja Police Division came to his rescue.

Ishaku said but for providence, the policeman could have been killed for no fault of his.

In a related development, some women were alleged to have attacked a man who went to withdraw money from the First Bank branch at Aregbe on the Gbongan Road, Osogbo.

Some good Samaritans according to him came to his aid and were able to retrieve the money for him.

“As soon as he got his money, he refused to pursue the case to the police station and eventually to court”.

However, members of the public who do not know this, easily conclude sometimes that the police have been bribed to disengage from the case.

In view of this, the police chief is encouraging members of the public to show keen interest in pursuing crime cases that affect them so that it can be diligently prosecuted.

Members of the PCRC were also told to beware of people who pretend to be asking for direction to roads, streets and other places.

He said some of them when they are answered resort to other things like hypnotizing their victims or pretend to pray for them to ward of calamities.

The chairman of the PCRC, Chief Gbadebo Adeyemo tasked members to live up to expectation in terms of attendance of meetings and payment of their dues as and when due.