Following the worsening insecurity crisis and rising gunmen attacks, the Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has directed police officers nationwide to open fire on anyone caught carrying illegal firearms.
The directive comes as part of an intensified campaign to tackle widespread insecurity.
Disu handed down the instruction on Friday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State.
The police chief explained that the order aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to decisively end the persistent security challenges in Benue State.
He stressed that only authorised security personnel are legally permitted to carry firearms and warned 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.
Additionally, Disu noted that Force Order 237 empowers officers to act decisively against armed threats without waiting for clearance from higher authorities.
He also called on community members to share credible intelligence with law enforcement, emphasizing that public cooperation is critical to dismantling armed networks.
Benue State has suffered repeated violent assaults by armed factions in recent months, leading to loss of life, widespread displacement, and severe property destruction.
In response, the federal government maintains a heightened security presence, deploying extra troops and enforcing tighter controls to stabilize the region.
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Backstory…
The Inspector-General of Police’s latest directive comes amid a resurgence of deadly gunmen attacks by armed groups across several parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central, North-West and South-East regions.
In recent months, gunmen have intensified assaults on communities, security personnel and critical infrastructure, resulting in scores of deaths, mass displacement and growing public concern over the country’s deteriorating security situation.
The renewed violence has prompted increased pressure on security agencies to adopt tougher measures against criminal elements.
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