The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunde Disu, has ordered police officers to shoot on sight anyone found in possession of illegal firearms.
Disu spoke on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Makurdi.
He also delivered the order, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to end the persistent insecurity in Benue.
He said only authorised security personnel are legally allowed to carry firearms, warning that law enforcement officers would no longer adopt a passive approach to armed criminality.
He said, “You cannot move around freely while carrying arms as if there were no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated.”
“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.
“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 on sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”
The police boss also urged Benue residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence, saying public cooperation remains essential in the fight against armed criminality.
‘’We need credible information from you to enable us fight these crminals,’’ he said.
