Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 56-year-old man for allegedly instigating a violent mob attack on a man accused of stealing mobile phones in Calabar, an incident that has once again thrust the troubling phenomenon of jungle justice into the national spotlight. The suspect, identified as Azubike Micheal, was taken into custody following a distress call that led police operatives to Harbour Junction, where they found the victim, Chukwu Ebuka, being savagely beaten by an angry mob. The prompt intervention of law enforcement saved the young man from what could have been a fatal lynching, but not before he sustained multiple injuries that required urgent medical attention.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m., when the Cross River State Police Command received a distress call reporting a mob attack on a suspected phone thief at the bustling Harbour Junction area of Calabar. Acting swiftly on the information, a police patrol team was immediately deployed to the scene, where officers discovered Chukwu Ebuka, a young man whose full identity has not been disclosed, being subjected to brutal violence by members of the public who had accused him of stealing mobile phones. The officers intervened, rescued the victim from the clutches of the mob, and evacuated him to an undisclosed clinic, where he is currently receiving treatment for the multiple injuries sustained during the assault.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the command detailed the circumstances surrounding the attack and the subsequent arrest. According to the statement, the mob had descended on Chukwu Ebuka based on allegations of phone theft, but the police were able to prevent what could have been a fatal outcome. The command confirmed that Azubike Micheal, a 56-year-old male, was arrested in connection with the incident following allegations that he instigated the mob and actively encouraged others to subject the victim to jungle justice. Micheal is currently in police custody while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the allegations that led to the mob attack.
The arrest comes at a time when Nigerian authorities are intensifying efforts to curb the growing scourge of mob justice across the country. Just weeks before this incident, the Inspector General of Police had issued a stern warning to state commissioners, declaring that all mob killings would be treated as homicide and that anyone who mobilises mobs or encourages attacks could face prosecution, even if they did not physically participate in the violence. The police chief had specifically cited the deadly consequences of mob justice, noting that similar attacks had occurred over unverified allegations involving suspected theft, blasphemy, and ritual activities. The IGP also warned that those who record mob attacks on their mobile phones, circulate footage on social media, mobilise crowds, or obstruct police officers from rescuing victims may also face criminal charges.
The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, has reaffirmed the command's commitment to protecting lives and property, preventing crime, and maintaining public order in accordance with the law. In a strong caution to the public, CP Ordue stressed that persons suspected of committing offences should be handed over to the police for investigation and dealt with through due process rather than subjected to mob violence. He urged residents to promptly report suspected criminal activities and distress situations to the police, emphasising that taking the law into one's own hands is not only illegal but also endangers innocent lives. The command noted that its swift intervention underscored its proactive approach to public safety and its determination to prevent threats to life and public order through timely response and decisive policing.
This incident in Calabar is far from isolated. In recent months, Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing wave of mob attacks, many of them sparked by allegations of phone theft. In July 2026, the Plateau State Police Command arrested three suspects in connection with the death of Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old University of Jos graduate and model who was allegedly beaten to death by a mob over accusations of stealing an iPhone 12. The suspects later admitted to attacking Mbaya, with one confessing to hitting him with a plank because he refused to reveal the location of the missing phone. In a separate incident on August 31, 2026, just one day before the Calabar attack, two suspected robbers were burnt to death in Calabar South Local Government Area after they were allegedly caught stealing a mobile phone. These recurring tragedies have prompted the National Association of Nigerian Students and other civil society groups to demand justice and call for an end to the culture of jungle justice.
The phenomenon of mob justice in Nigeria is deeply rooted in a combination of factors, including widespread distrust of the police, perceived inefficiency of the criminal justice system, and a growing frustration with the prevalence of theft and armed robbery in many communities. However, authorities have consistently warned that vigilante violence not only violates the rights of the accused but also undermines the rule of law and often results in the punishment of innocent people. In many cases, the accused are later found to have been wrongly identified or falsely accused, leaving families grieving for loved ones who were killed without trial.
As investigations into the Calabar incident continue, the police have assured the public that further developments will be communicated. The command has also reiterated its call for residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and ensuring that justice is pursued through legitimate legal channels. For now, Chukwu Ebuka remains hospitalized, recovering from the wounds inflicted by a mob that had chosen to bypass the law. And Azubike Micheal, the man alleged to have lit the fuse of that violence, now faces the full weight of the law for his role in the attack.
The battle against jungle justice is far from over, but the arrest of the 56-year-old instigator sends a clear message: those who incite mob violence will be held accountable. Whether that message will be enough to deter future attacks remains to be seen.
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