IG Orders Shoot-on-Sight for Illegal Arms Bearers

On Friday, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, issued a directive for police officers nationwide to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms. This order is part of renewed efforts to address the ongoing insecurity in the country, particularly in Benue State, where armed groups have caused significant violence and displacement.

The directive follows President Bola Tinubu’s insistence that the insecurity in the region must be resolved. Disu emphasized that only authorized security personnel are allowed to carry firearms and declared that the era of passive policing is over.

He referenced Force Order 237, which empowers police officers to respond to armed threats without waiting for superior orders. Disu urged public cooperation in providing credible information to aid security agencies in combating armed criminality, stressing the importance of community support in restoring peace.