Police clarify IG didn’t order shoot-on-sight against criminals
The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the IGP did not issue a shoot-on-sight order, emphasising that officers must adhere to Force Order 237 on firearms use.
The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, did not issue a “shoot-on-sight” order during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, contrary to reports in some sections of the media.
In a statement issued to correct what it described as a misrepresentation of the IGP’s comments, the Force said the police chief merely reiterated the provisions of Force Order 237, which governs the legal and operational conditions for the use of firearms by police personnel. According to the statement, the IGP told stakeholders that officers had been adequately briefed on the provisions of the order and understood the circumstances under which firearms could be deployed in line with the established Rules of Engagement.
The Force explained that the Inspector-General’s remarks were intended to emphasise professionalism and compliance with existing operational guidelines rather than authorise indiscriminate use of force. The statement further noted that the IGP stressed that illegal possession of firearms and acts of violence, including unlawful killings, would not be tolerated.
The Force urged members of the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that the IGP ordered officers to shoot suspects on sight, describing such claims as inaccurate and taken out of context. It also encouraged the public to watch the full video of the Inspector-General’s remarks to better understand the context of his statement and help curb the spread of misinformation.
The clarification reflects the police’s effort to manage public perception and avoid the impression of extrajudicial killings. The issue of police brutality is a sensitive one in Nigeria, and any suggestion of a shoot-on-sight order would have sparked significant backlash. The police’s emphasis on Force Order 237 suggests that they are trying to reassure the public that officers will follow the rules.
This echoes the 2020 EndSARS protests, which were sparked by allegations of police brutality and extrajudicial killings. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a police force aware of the need to manage its public image.
The winners: the Nigeria Police Force, which has corrected the record; and the Nigerian public, which has been reassured that officers will follow the rules. The losers: the media outlets that reported the story inaccurately; and the Nigerian public, which must continue to hold the police accountable.
Bottom Line: The police say the IG didn’t order shoot-on-sight. He only reiterated the rules on firearms. The clarification is important. The question is whether officers will follow the rules.