NEWS
“They Have Been Instructed to Shoot at Sight“ — IGP, Olatunji Disu Affirms, Orders Police to Fire at Anyone Carrying Illegal Firearms
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a firm directive to police officers across Nigeria to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms, as part of renewed efforts to tackle the country’s worsening security challenges.
The order was announced on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to the police chief, the directive follows President Bola Tinubu’s instruction that the prolonged security crisis in Benue State must be brought to an end.
Disu stressed that only authorised security personnel are legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that security agencies would no longer tolerate the unlawful possession of weapons by individuals.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Inspector-General explained that the directive is backed by Force Order 237, which empowers police officers to respond immediately to armed threats without seeking prior approval from superior officers.
“We have given them instructions. We have a Force Order 237. Police officers have been instructed that they don’t need to wait for any superior order. They know where to deploy their firearms,” he said.
Disu noted that the decision was driven by the growing number of security personnel who have lost their lives while carrying out their duties, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow,” the IGP said.
Reaffirming the directive, he declared:
“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”
The police chief also appealed to residents to actively support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence on criminal activities. He emphasized that effective community collaboration remains a critical component in the fight against armed criminality and insecurity across the country.
Benue State has remained one of the worst-hit states by recurring attacks from armed groups in recent months. The violence has claimed numerous lives, displaced thousands of residents from their communities, and led to the destruction of homes and other valuable property.
In response to the escalating security situation, the Federal Government has continued to reinforce security operations in the state by deploying additional personnel and implementing tougher measures aimed at restoring peace, protecting lives and property, and preventing further attacks.