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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

IG orders nationwide arms audit after Delta killing

From The Punch · (4m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Inspector General of Police has ordered a nationwide audit of all arms and ammunition in police commands.
  • This directive follows the dismissal of four officers involved in the shooting of a restrained man in Delta State, an incident captured on viral video.
  • The IGP also mandated regular town hall meetings between police commissioners and community stakeholders to foster better partnerships and information gathering.

In a decisive move to reinforce accountability and professional conduct within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has initiated a comprehensive nationwide audit of all arms and ammunition. This critical directive comes in the wake of a disturbing viral video depicting officers firing at a restrained, handcuffed man in Delta State, an act that has rightly drawn widespread condemnation.

I hereby direct all commissioners of police to immediately undertake a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their respective commands.

— Tunji DisuThe Inspector General of Police's directive for a nationwide arms and ammunition audit.

The swift dismissal of the four officers involved, led by ASP Nuhu Usman, and the subsequent transmission of their case file to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for criminal prosecution, signal a zero-tolerance policy towards extra-judicial killings and violations of professional standards. The IGP's strong condemnation of the act as "unlawful" and a violation of the "sanctity of human life" underscores the gravity with which the Force is treating this incident.

This exercise must be thorough, transparent, and properly documented, with detailed reports forwarded to the Force Headquarters within the stipulated timeframe.

— Tunji DisuInstructions regarding the procedure and reporting for the arms audit.

Beyond the immediate disciplinary actions, the arms audit is a strategic measure to ensure that all operational assets are properly accounted for and optimally deployed. Commissioners of Police across all state commands are tasked with conducting a thorough, transparent, and documented stocktaking exercise, with detailed reports to be submitted to the Force Headquarters. This exercise aims to identify existing gaps, strengthen accountability, and enhance the Force's overall readiness.

The objective is clear: to strengthen accountability, identify existing gaps, and provide an accurate assessment of our operational needs.

— Tunji DisuThe stated goals of the arms and ammunition audit.

Furthermore, the IGP is emphasizing community engagement by directing commissioners to convene regular town hall meetings with key stakeholders. These are not to be mere ceremonial events but genuine platforms for gathering information and building robust partnerships with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth and women groups, and transport unions. Making contact details available to community leaders is another step towards enhancing accessibility and fostering trust between the police and the public they serve.

That act was wrong. It was unlawful. It violated the sanctity of human life and the professional standards of this Force.

— Tunji DisuThe IGP's condemnation of the unlawful shooting incident in Delta State.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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