The Nigeria Police Force has refuted reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, ordered officers to shoot anyone found with illegal firearms, insisting that the report is entirely false and a misrepresentation of the IGP’s actual comments.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Aniete Iniedu, said the IGP comment which has since gone viral was taken out of context and twisted to mislead the public.
According to the statement, during the stakeholders’ meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State., the IGP lamented about the growing problem of illegal weapons, which are often used by criminals to carry out kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, cult violence and other serious crimes, reminding officers that only security personnel who are legally authorised are allowed to carry firearms.
He stated that officers must always act within the law and follow the approved rules for the use of force. At no time did he instruct officers to shoot anyone simply because they were found with an illegal firearm.
The Force advised members of the public and media organisations to verify information before publishing or sharing it, stressing that misleading reports on security matters can create unnecessary fear, confuse the public, and damage trust in security institutions.
