The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) has commended the conviction and sentencing of the killers of David Imoh, whose life was brutally cut short by a lawless mob in Lekki, Lagos.

Imoh, a 37-year-old sound engineer with Legacy360 Band, was beaten to death and set ablaze along Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, following a disagreement with a commercial motorcycle rider over a N100 balance.

The incident provoked widespread condemnation across Nigeria, with civil society groups, entertainers and members of the public demanding justice for the slain and calling for an end to mob violence.

Following the outcry, the Lagos State Government arraigned six suspects, namely Dahiru Ayuba, Susan Moses, Chigozie Anthony, Christopher Dauda, Joseph Tella and Sunday Azi, before Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

In her judgment on Tuesday, the judge sentenced three of the six defendants to death by hanging, while two others were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, and were sentenced to 11 years and two months’ imprisonment each.

The sixth defendant was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and sentenced to five years and six months in prison.

Reacting to the judgment in a statement by Tunde Agunbiade on behalf of NCAMKI, the coalition noted that while no judgment could restore a life so wickedly taken, the verdict sends a powerful message that those who substitute justice with violence, and the rule of law with barbarism, cannot escape accountability.

NCAMKI also saluted the courage, resilience and determination of Imoh’s widow, family members, legal representatives, human rights advocates and all citizens who refused to allow the horrific crime to be swept under the carpet.

According to the coalition, Imoh was not merely a victim of a mob but also of a dangerous culture that encourages some citizens to assume the roles of accusers, investigators, judges and executioners.

However, the coalition insists that such a “dangerous culture must end. The streets are not courts. Angry crowds are not judges. Violence is not justice. Murder is not law enforcement. The tragic killing of David Imoh shocked the conscience of our nation because it exposed the frightening consequences of mob rule.

“A fellow Nigerian was beaten, tortured and burnt to death while others looked on. Such acts represent an assault not only on the victim but on the very foundation of a civilised society.”

Expressing hope that the judgment would serve as a strong warning to those who participate in, encourage, finance, celebrate, or justify mob violence, NCAMKI added: “Let it be known throughout Nigeria that no grievance, suspicion, allegation, or accusation can justify the unlawful taking of human life.

“Every Nigerian, regardless of status, tribe, religion, occupation, or circumstance, is entitled to due process, a fair hearing, and the protection of the law.”

The coalition further called on law enforcement agencies nationwide to treat mob action with the seriousness it deserves, stating that perpetrators must be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law, while communities that tolerate mob violence should understand that silence in the face of criminality only encourages further lawlessness.

It also urged governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders, schools, civil society organisations and the media to intensify public enlightenment against jungle justice and mob violence, noting that a nation governed by the rule of law cannot coexist with a culture of lynching.

According to NCAMKI, democracy cannot flourish where mobs determine guilt and punishment.