RismadarVoice Reporters
July 24, 2026
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has directed police officers nationwide to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms as part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Disu issued the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, saying the measure followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to end the persistent security challenges facing the state.
The police chief stressed that only authorised security personnel are legally permitted to bear arms, warning that unlawful possession of firearms would no longer be tolerated.
“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.
According to the IGP, the directive is backed by Force Order 237, which authorises police officers to respond immediately to armed threats without waiting for instructions 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,” Disu stated.
He explained that the decision was prompted by the growing number of security personnel being killed in the line of duty.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow,” he said.
Reaffirming the directive, the IGP added that officers had been adequately trained to apply the rules of engagement when confronted with armed threats.
“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.
Disu called on residents to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence, noting that community cooperation remains essential to combating armed criminality.
Benue State has experienced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of thousands of residents and widespread destruction of property.
The Federal Government has continued to strengthen security operations in the state through the deployment of additional security personnel and the implementation of measures aimed at restoring peace and preventing further attacks.
