The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers nationwide to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms.
Disu gave the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu had ordered security agencies to bring insecurity in Benue State to an end, stressing that only authorised security personnel are permitted to bear firearms.
The IGP said the era of passive policing was over, warning that individuals carrying weapons unlawfully would be treated as threats.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated.
“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,” the IGP said.
Disu called on residents to support security agencies with credible and timely information, noting that public cooperation remains essential to tackling insecurity across the country.
