The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to further clarify his recent remarks on the use of firearms, warning that although he did not issue a “shoot-on-sight” directive, his comments could be misinterpreted by officers in the field.

The rights group made the call in a statement on Wednesday signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, following widespread reports that the IGP had ordered police officers to shoot anyone found carrying illegal firearms.

The reports stemmed from the Inspector-General’s address at a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, where he spoke on efforts to combat insecurity and armed violence.

However, the Nigeria Police Force, through its spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, later dismissed the reports, insisting that the IGP had not introduced a shoot-on-sight policy and that officers remained bound by Force Order 237, the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Act 2020 and other legal frameworks regulating the use of force.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC)

Reacting, RULAAC said a review of the Inspector-General’s complete remarks showed that he never expressly instructed officers to shoot anyone found carrying firearms.

The organisation, however, maintained that some of the language used by the police chief was broad and capable of creating uncertainty among officers.

According to Nwanguma, the Inspector-General’s statement that “everyone who has picked up a weapon has become a target,” coupled with his reference to Force Order 237, could easily be misunderstood by officers operating in tense security situations.

He stressed that operational directives involving the use of force must be communicated with precision, particularly in a country where concerns over unlawful killings and excessive use of force by security agencies remain prevalent.

Nwanguma argued that neither the Constitution nor the Nigeria Police Act permits officers to use lethal force simply because an individual is found in possession of a firearm, whether legally or illegally.

He noted that Force Order 237, the Nigeria Police Act and international human rights standards, including the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, permit the use of deadly force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life against an imminent threat of death or serious injury and when less harmful measures are insufficient.

“Possession of an illegal firearm is a criminal offence that ordinarily warrants arrest, investigation and prosecution, not summary execution,” he said.

The rights group warned that ambiguous public statements by senior police officials could inadvertently encourage excessive use of force or reinforce a culture of impunity within the Nigeria Police Force.

While acknowledging the country’s security challenges, including kidnappings, armed attacks and killings, RULAAC insisted that effective policing must remain anchored on the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The organisation maintained that public safety and human rights were complementary objectives, arguing that security agencies could effectively tackle violent crime without abandoning constitutional safeguards.

RULAAC urged the Inspector-General to publicly reaffirm that the Nigeria Police Force has no shoot-on-sight policy and to reiterate that all officers remain bound by the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Act, Force Order 237 and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

The organisation also called on the police to make it clear that possession of a firearm alone does not justify the use of lethal force, insisting that deadly force should only be deployed where it is strictly necessary to protect life against an imminent threat and where no less harmful alternatives exist.

It further advocated independent investigations into all police shootings resulting in death or serious injury and called for officers found to have used unlawful or excessive force to be held accountable.

RULAAC also urged the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen nationwide training for officers on the lawful use of force, with emphasis on the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, precaution and accountability.