The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned 1,068 retrained constables against professional misconduct, insisting that the police uniform does not offer protection from the law.
Disu gave the warning on Thursday during the passing-out parade of retrained constables at the Police Mobile Force Base, 26 PMF, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, saying the era of impunity in the force is over.
He said any officer found misusing firearms or unlawfully killing a citizen would be dismissed and prosecuted.
“Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice,” he said.
The IGP warned that an untrained or indisciplined armed officer poses a serious threat to public safety, while a properly trained officer remains a protector of the people.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for initiating the comprehensive retraining of female officers in arms handling, noting that competence is not determined by gender.
Disu also reminded officers that Force Order 237 remains in force, stressing that firearms must only be used as a last resort, proportionately, and strictly within legal boundaries.
He further cautioned against extortion, reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, and reckless use of firearms, warning that violators would face dismissal and prosecution.
The IGP urged the newly retrained constables to handle their weapons with restraint, uphold discipline, and treat members of the public with respect.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Azare, said the retrained personnel include a specially selected unit for the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit, designed as a strike force against violent crimes in the state.
Azare said the command had recorded operational successes, including the safe evacuation of explosive devices at the Ikot Ekpene custodial centre and the rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways through inter-agency collaboration.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to community policing and called on residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information.
