IGP Orders Police to Shoot Those with Illegal Firearms

On Friday, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, issued a directive to police officers across Nigeria to take decisive action against individuals carrying illegal firearms. Disu stated that security agencies would no longer tolerate unlawful possession of weapons due to increasing security concerns, particularly in Benue State and other troubled areas.

He emphasized that only authorized security personnel are permitted to carry firearms and that anyone found with illegal weapons would be treated as a threat to public safety. Disu reiterated that police officers have been trained to respond appropriately to armed threats and have been instructed to shoot at sight if necessary.

He called for community support in providing credible information to help prevent attacks and dismantle criminal networks, highlighting the importance of local intelligence in combating insecurity.