The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed officers nationwide to take decisive action against individuals carrying illegal firearms, including the use of lethal force where necessary.
The directive was issued on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Benue State, amid rising insecurity in the region. Disu said the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s order to end persistent violence in the state.
He stressed that only authorized security personnel are permitted to bear arms, warning that unlawful possession would no longer be tolerated.
Citing Force Order 237, the police chief noted that officers are empowered to respond immediately to armed threats without awaiting clearance from superiors.
“We are tired of losing our men,” Disu said, referencing the increasing number of security personnel killed in the line of duty.
He urged residents to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, emphasizing that community cooperation is critical to tackling armed criminality.
Benue State has experienced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in multiple deaths, displacement of residents, and destruction of property. The Federal Government has since intensified security deployments and adopted stricter measures to restore peace in the state.
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