The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, issued a “shoot-on-sight” directive against individuals found carrying illegal firearms.
The clarification follows widespread reports on Friday, July 24, which alleged that the police chief, while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, instructed officers to immediately shoot anyone in possession of illegal weapons.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Force said the reports misrepresented the IGP’s comments, explaining that he was referring to Force Order 237, the regulation that outlines the legal and operational guidelines governing the use of firearms by police officers.
The statement, titled “Clarification: What the Inspector-General of Police Actually Said in Makurdi,” was accompanied by a video of the IGP’s remarks to provide full context.
According to the police, “At a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, did not issue any ‘shoot-on-sight’ order as widely misreported.”
The Force explained that the IGP merely reminded officers that they had been briefed on Force Order 237 and understood the circumstances under which firearms could legally be used in line with the established Rules of Engagement.
The statement added that the police chief also made it clear that illegal possession of firearms and unlawful killings would not be tolerated, while urging members of the public to watch the full video of his remarks rather than rely on reports taken out of context.
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