IGP Disu Orders Police to Shoot Armed Suspects on Sight, Cites Force Order 237
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Fintan Ifebuche Mathew
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has directed police officers across Nigeria to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms, declaring that only duly authorized security personnel are legally permitted to bear arms.
The Police Chief gave the directive while addressing officers and stakeholders during a visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, amid growing concerns over insecurity and recurring attacks in parts of the state.
Speaking firmly on the need to restore law and order, the IGP warned that the era of armed individuals moving freely without consequence 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," Disu declared.
Invoking the provisions of Force Order 237, the IGP explained that police officers are empowered to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for further authorization from superior officers where circumstances warrant immediate action.
"We are tired of losing our men... They have been instructed to shoot at sight," he added.
The directive comes as security agencies intensify efforts to curb violent crimes, including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and attacks by criminal groups that have claimed hundreds of lives across several states in recent months.
Force Order 237 is an operational guideline of the Nigeria Police Force governing the use of firearms by police personnel. The order outlines circumstances under which officers may lawfully use lethal force, including situations involving self-defense, the protection of lives, prevention of serious crimes, and the arrest of dangerous suspects who pose an imminent threat.
The guideline has generated public debate over the years, with human rights organizations calling for strict adherence to constitutional safeguards and international standards on the use of force. The police, however, have consistently maintained that the order is intended to protect officers and innocent citizens while enabling effective responses to violent crimes.
Benue State has remained one of Nigeria's major security flashpoints, with repeated attacks on farming communities, communal clashes, and incidents involving armed criminal groups. The renewed police directive is seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen security operations and reassure residents.
The directive has drawn mixed reactions from security experts, civil society organizations, and members of the public.
Some security analysts welcomed the move, arguing that officers confronting heavily armed criminals require clear operational backing to defend themselves and civilians during life-threatening encounters.
Others, however, urged the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the directive is implemented strictly within the confines of the law. Human rights advocates cautioned that while security personnel must be protected, the use of lethal force should remain proportionate, lawful, and subject to accountability to prevent abuses.
Legal practitioners also stressed that Force Order 237 should always be interpreted alongside the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant laws governing policing and the protection of fundamental human rights.
As public debate continues, attention is expected to focus on how the police enforce the directive and whether it leads to improved security without compromising citizens' constitutional rights.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue additional operational guidelines clarifying how the latest directive will be implemented nationwide.
