Nigeria Police Clarify Inspector-General’s Remarks, Deny ‘Shoot-on-Sight’ Directive in Benue

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a clarification regarding recent statements by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, stating that no “shoot-on-sight” order was issued against individuals carrying illegal firearms.

The official statement follows media reports suggesting that a shoot-on-sight mandate had been issued during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State.

In a statement titled “Clarification: What the Inspector-General of Police Actually Said in Makurdi,” the Force explained that the Inspector-General was referring to Force Order 237, which establishes the legal and operational framework governing the use of force and firearms by police officers.

The Force noted that officers have been briefed on Force Order 237 to ensure they understand the legal conditions under which firearms may be deployed, such as self-defense or responding to immediate armed threats, in strict accordance with established Rules of Engagement.

While emphasizing that illegal possession of arms and attacks on security personnel will not be tolerated, the police administration urged the public to review video recordings of the Makurdi event to understand the full context of the Inspector-General’s comments.