IGP Disu orders officers to shoot armed criminals carrying illegal weapons on sight

Police Inspector-General Olatunji Disu has directed all police officials in the country to shoot immediately any person found with illegal arms as one of the ways of dealing with the problem of insecurity in the country.

The order was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday at the Government House, Makurdi, the state capital of Benue State.

As reported by the police official, the order is meant to reinforce security operations in order to stop the activities of armed criminals in Nigeria.

He said that the need for police officials to make decisive steps regarding people with illegal guns is very important in order to protect lives and properties.

As stated by the Inspector General, the decision was made in response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the insecurity in Benue State should be stopped immediately.

He said that the only people who can carry arms are the officially authorized security officials.

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

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

The IG said, “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.

“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”

He called on residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against armed criminality.

Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property.

The federal government has continued to deploy additional security personnel and adopt tougher measures aimed at restoring peace in the state.