Oshiomhole backs shooting armed criminals on sight

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has strongly asserted that security operatives should shoot armed criminals without hesitation, directly challenging the Inspector-General of Police's apparent reluctance to endorse a "shoot-on-sight" policy. Oshiomhole argued that any apology or hesitation regarding such measures is misplaced, emphasizing that immediate action against criminals is necessary.

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That’s why when this IG was saying he didn’t say “shoot at sight,” Why is he apologetic? Shoot at sight. If you see a criminal, shoot on sight.

"Shoot on sight. If you see a criminal, shoot on sight," Oshiomhole declared during a TVC News interview, expressing his disagreement with the IGP's clarification that the police force did not issue a blanket "shoot-on-sight" order but rather referred to existing rules governing the use of firearms. Oshiomhole believes the focus should be on decisive action rather than procedural nuances.

Furthermore, the senator voiced his approval of the Department of State Services' decision to appeal a court judgment that reduced death sentences to life imprisonment for convicted offenders. He stated that judges should implement the law without personal sentiment and commended the DSS for upholding this principle. This stance underscores a desire for stricter penalties and enforcement against those deemed dangerous criminals.

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I have said that judges should implement the law, not their personal sentiment. I’m also happy that the DSS is doing its job.

Looking ahead to the next presidential election, Oshiomhole identified insecurity as the sole significant risk to President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid. He urged the president to issue a firm directive to the armed forces, setting a clear deadline for the service chiefs to eradicate insecurity within the coming months. Oshiomhole stressed the need for accountability, advocating for benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of resources allocated to the military against the results achieved.

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They have appealed the judgment where people who should have been condemned to death were given life imprisonment.

"There has to be a benchmark to measure what we give them and the results that we get, and whether it's commensurate," he stated, advocating for holding service chiefs strictly accountable. Oshiomhole believes that President Tinubu has established the necessary macroeconomic policies, leaving insecurity as the critical challenge that requires immediate and decisive resolution, despite acknowledging that it cannot be solved overnight. He emphasized the public's expectation for consistent and deliberate efforts to address the issue.

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I would tell him to do everything he can to direct the armed forces to ensure that the service chiefs understand that they have a duty to terminate insecurity within the next few months.