11th June, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
Operatives of Edo State Police Command on Saturday foiled what could have become another case of jungle justice, when they rescued a yet-to-be-identified man who reportedly attacked a trader in the popular New Benin market, from an angry mob.
It was gathered that the assailant, thought to be a mad man, attacked his victim, Mr. Anthony Jibunor,with a cutlass.
Sympathisers who took the suspect for a man from the northern part of the country descended on him and beat him to stupor because of the action.
The development caused great commotion and pandemonium, as other traders around the area scampered for safety to avoid being caught in the free for all attack.
The State Police Command spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, described the attack on Mr. Jibunor as “brutal”.
He further disclosed that operatives of the Command secured both the assailant and his victim and took them to an undisclosed health facility for treatment.
The statement said:
“The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that its aware of the incident that occurred today being Saturday, 11th June 2022 where a young man whose name and address are unknown, but profiled to be a mad man used cutlass to inflict bodily injuries on one Mr. Anthony Jibunor ‘M’
“Immediately the command received the distress call, Command Tactical Teams, Patrol Teams from various Police Divisional Headquarters and their various Divisional Police Officers in and around New Benin Police Divisional Headquarters were dispatched to the scene to bring down something seemly to riotous situation to normal and for protection of lives and property.
“The contingent of policemen that were dispatched to the scene met the assailant who was already in the hands of angry mob that beat hell out of him and the victim who the assailant brutally cut with a cutlass.
“The assailant and his victim were rescued from the angry mob and both of them taken to undisclosed hospitals (for security reasons) for medical treatment.
“The good news so far, is that, both the victim and the assailant are in good stable medical condition.
“It is worthy of emphasis to clear the air that the identity of the assailant is yet unknown as regarding to his name, address, tribe and family inclination.”
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has warned those encouraging jungle justice to desist from it.
Yaro stated this while sympathising with the victim and his family and wishing him a speedy recovery.
He noted that no one has the right to take the life of a fellow human being, adding that instead, such a perceived offender should be brought to the nearby police station for proper investigation.
Yaro, however, appealed to the victim’s family members, friends, well-wishers, sympathizers and the general public to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breach of public peace, warning that the Command will stop at nothing in arresting and prosecuting any offender(s).