Aliyu Sale, Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, has ordered thorough investigation into the alleged killing of two suspected thieves by irate residents in Taura Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner gave the order in a statement by the Command’s spokesman, Lawan Shiisu, on Sunday in Dutse.
Shiisu said Sale also ordered for the arrest of the people that allegedly killed the suspects on Saturday in Malamar Taura village.
He said: “On July 30, at about 8 a.m., information at our disposal revealed that on the same date at about 5:30 a.m., two unknown suspected thieves were beaten with sticks and cutlasses to death by an irate mob.”
He said they were suspected to have stolen domestic animals in Malamar Taura village, Taura LGA.
“Upon receipt of the information, a team of Policemen led by SP Yohana Babale, visited the scene of crime and took the victims to General Hospital Ringim, where they were certified dead by a Medical Doctor,” Shiisu added.
He explained that the CP frowned at the action of the residents, who instead of handing over the suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, decided to take the law into their hands.
The Police Public Relations Officer added that Sale, who described the action of the residents as barbaric, dehumanising and inimical to the law, warned the public against taking laws into their hands by killing suspects arrested for alleged crimes in such a dehumanising and unlawful manner.
According to him, the police chief further warned that no one had the right to treat suspects in such barbaric manner and that those arrested in connection with any crime must immediately be handed over to the Police or any law enforcement agency constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting such suspects.
Shiisu added that investigation into the case had begun and efforts were being intensified to arrest the culprits.
