The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered police officers across the country to shoot on sight anyone caught with illegal firearms in a bid to step up the fight against insecurity.
Disu made the directive known on Friday while addressing stakeholders at Government House, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after the directive by President Bola Tinubu for an end to the continuing security problem in the state.
Under the legislation, only registered security workers are allowed to carry firearms,” the police chief said. “legislation enforcement authorities will no longer accept the illegal carrying of weapons.”
“You cannot be walking around freely carrying guns as if there is no law and order in this country. ‘That will not be tolerated,’ he said.
Disu said the directive was supported by Force Order 237, which permits police officers to take prompt action against armed threats without waiting for higher authority.
“We have given them instructions. We’ve got Force Order 237. Officers have been told that they don’t have to wait for any order from above. “They know where to use their guns,” he continued.
The decision was taken in the light of rising number of casualties among security personnel in the line of duty, he said.
‘We are tired of losing our men. “We are tired of police officers dying anyhow, soldiers and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow,” the IGP said.
Disu said, reinforcing the order, “They have been ordered to shoot on sight. They’ve been trained to do whatever it takes. “But we cannot do it without the cooperation of all of you.”
The Inspector-General appealed to people to support security forces by sharing timely and credible intelligence, adding that community collaboration remains important to efforts to combat violent criminality.
Armed groups have attacked Benue State repeatedly in recent months killing scores, displacing thousands of residents and destroying property.
The Federal Government has intensified security operations in the state with the deployment of more people and stringent steps to restore peace and prevent further attacks.
The Vanguard Newspaper
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