The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers across the country to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms.
Disu gave the order at a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Friday, July 24.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu had directed that insecurity in Benue must come to an end, emphasizing that only authorised security personnel were permitted to bear firearms.
He said that only authorised security personnel were legally permitted to bear firearms.
“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 insecurity.
Benue State has suffered repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months.