Shoot on sight: Nigeria police chief orders officers to use lethal force against illegal firearm carriers

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a shoot-on-sight order for anyone found with illegal firearms, a drastic measure intended to combat the nation's escalating insecurity. The directive, given during a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, is a direct response to President Bola Tinubu's demand for an end to persistent insecurity in the region.

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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.

Disu emphasized that the era of passive policing is over, stating that unauthorized firearm possession will not be tolerated. He invoked Force Order 237, which empowers police officers to act decisively against armed threats without needing approval from superiors. This change aims to protect security personnel, who Disu noted are tired of losing colleagues in the line of duty.

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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.

"We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow," Disu stated. He urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information, stressing that public support is crucial for combating armed criminality. Benue State has recently suffered from numerous attacks by armed groups, leading to loss of life, displacement, and property destruction, prompting the federal government to deploy additional security forces and implement stricter measures.

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We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow.