By Ayodele Oni
Despite the shoot on sight order for policemen, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, warned that monitoring teams will be deployed to ensure compliance with Force Order 237 and to investigate any allegations of abuse.
“No one is above the law, and no officer will be allowed to act recklessly. But we will no longer fold our arms while our people are slaughtered.”
A sweeping shoot-on-sight directive was issued to police officers nationwide, ordering them to neutralise anyone found in possession of illegal firearms as part of a renewed federal push to curb insecurity.
The Inspector General of Police, ( IGP), Tunji Disu announced the directive during a high-level stakeholders’ security meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
He said the order was in direct response to President Bola Tinubu’s instruction that the wave of killings and armed attacks in Benue “must be brought to an end.”
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, and security chiefs, the IGP declared that only authorised security personnel are permitted by law 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,” Disu said.
He stated: “The era of passive policing is over. We must be proactive to protect lives and property.”
He explained that officers have now been fully activated under Force Order 237, the police regulation governing the use of force, which allows them to respond decisively to imminent threats without waiting for approval from superiors.
Under the directive, police personnel confronting armed suspects are empowered to use lethal force where there is reasonable belief of danger to officers or civilians.
“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 explained.
“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.”
The IGP noted that the new posture is intended to deter armed bandits, kidnappers, and militias who have exploited delays in police response to carry out attacks, particularly in Benue and other Middle Belt states.
While announcing tougher enforcement, Disu appealed to citizens to partner security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence.
“But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” he said. “Security is everybody’s business. If you see something, say something. We need information to get ahead of these criminals.”
He assured that the police command in Benue would be reinforced with additional personnel, surveillance assets, and rapid response units in the coming days.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks in 2026 attributed to armed herders and criminal gangs, leaving hundreds dead and communities displaced.
President Tinubu last week described the situation as “unacceptable” and directed security agencies to restore order within 30 days.
Human rights groups have previously raised concerns over extrajudicial killings, and the IGP’s latest directive is expected to spark debate over rules of engagement and accountability. Disu, however, insisted that all actions would still be within the framework of the law.
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