Nigeria Police Ordered to Shoot Suspects Carrying Illegal Firearms

Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a shoot-on-sight order for any individual found carrying illegal firearms, intensifying efforts to combat widespread insecurity. The directive, announced Friday during a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State capital, follows President Bola Tinubu's mandate to end the persistent security crisis in the region. Disu emphasized that only authorized security personnel are legally permitted to carry firearms, warning that the unlawful possession of weapons will no longer be tolerated. "You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated," he stated. The IGP clarified that this directive is supported by Force Order 237, which grants police officers the authority to respond immediately to armed threats without needing prior approval from superiors. "Police officers have been instructed that they don’t need to wait for any superior order. They know where to deploy their firearms," Disu explained. He cited the increasing number of casualties among security personnel as a key reason for the policy shift. "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. Disu urged residents to cooperate by providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community involvement is crucial for combating armed criminality. Benue State has recently suffered numerous attacks by armed groups, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement of thousands, and destruction of property. The Federal Government is reinforcing security operations in the state with additional personnel and stricter measures to restore peace.

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You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated.