The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered police officers nationwide to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms, declaring that the era of armed individuals moving freely across the country is over.
Disu handed down the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, saying the order was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to end the protracted security crisis in the state.
The police boss warned that only duly authorised security personnel have the legal right to bear arms, stressing that security agencies would no longer tolerate the unlawful possession of firearms.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he declared.
The IGP said the directive was anchored on Force Order 237, which empowers police officers to respond immediately to armed threats without seeking 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,” Disu said.
He lamented the growing number of security personnel killed while confronting armed criminals, 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,” he said.
Reaffirming the order, the police chief added: “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.”
Disu appealed to residents of Benue State and Nigerians at large to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, noting that public cooperation remains crucial to dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace.
Benue has suffered a wave of deadly attacks by armed groups in recent months, leaving scores of people dead, thousands displaced and several communities devastated.
The Federal Government has since intensified security operations in the state by deploying additional personnel and adopting tougher measures aimed at ending the violence and preventing further attacks.
