The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers across the country to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms.
Disu issued the directive on Friday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State.
He said the order was part of renewed efforts to end insecurity in the state, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the persistent attacks in Benue must be brought to an end.
The IG warned that only authorised security personnel were permitted to carry firearms, stressing that the era of passive policing was over.
“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 said police officers had been empowered under Force Order 237 to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for orders 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.
“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 said.
The IGP urged residents to provide security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation was essential to tackling armed criminality.
Benue has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, leading to deaths, displacement and destruction of property.
The Federal Government has continued to deploy additional security personnel and introduce tougher measures to restore peace in the state.
