Shoot Anyone With Illegal Firearms on Sight- IGP Tunji Disu Orders Police in Renewed Crackdown on Insecurity

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers nationwide to shoot anyone found in possession of illegal firearms, as part of a renewed offensive to curb insecurity across the country.

The IG issued the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State.

According to Disu, the order is in direct response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s instruction that the persistent insecurity in Benue State must be brought to an end.

He declared that only authorized security personnel are legally permitted to carry firearms, warning that the era of passive policing is over.

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

Disu disclosed that police officers have been empowered under Force Order 237 to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for approval from superior officers.

“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,” he stated.

“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow. They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary.”

The police chief called on citizens to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation is critical to ending armed criminality.

Benue State has recorded repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, leading to loss of lives, displacement of communities and destruction of property.

The Federal Government has in response deployed additional security personnel and adopted tougher measures aimed at restoring peace to the state.