Effurun Shooting: IGP Declares End to Police Impunity

Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – In a decisive move aimed at restoring public trust and accountability, Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has unequivocally stated that the era of impunity within the Nigeria Police Force is over. Speaking at the passing-out parade for 1,068 retrained Police Constables in Uyo, the IGP issued a stern warning: officers engaging in unprofessional conduct, particularly the misuse of firearms or unlawful killings, will no longer be shielded from justice.

IGP Disu emphasized that such transgressions will now result in immediate dismissal and prosecution, a significant departure from previous practices that often involved mere transfers, queries, or redeployments. "No officer will be shielded from unprofessional conduct. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted—not transferred, not queried, not redeployed," he declared, reinforcing that "no badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice."

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No officer will be shielded from unprofessional conduct. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted—not transferred, not queried, not redeployed

This strong stance comes in the wake of a recent shooting incident in Effurun, Delta State, and signals a commitment to upholding the rule of law within the police force. The IGP stressed that firearms should only be used as a last resort, in a proportionate manner, and strictly within legal boundaries, as stipulated in Force Order 237. He also warned against extortion and operating under the influence of alcohol. In a related development, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the formation of a specialized Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), comprising specially selected personnel from the retrained constables. This unit aims to bolster the state's capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to security threats, further demonstrating the force's renewed focus on professionalism and public safety.

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No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice