"WE ARE TIRED OF LOSING OUR MEN": IGP Invokes Force Order 237, Directs Police to Shoot Illegal Arms Bearers on Sight

By David Alani Ige, (The Scribe)

July 24, 2026

 

Tunji Disu 
Inspector General of Police 

MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — In a drastic escalation of the Federal Government's war against banditry and armed criminality, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has officially directed police operatives across the country to shoot on sight anyone found unlawfully carrying firearms.

The IGP issued this sweeping and controversial directive on Friday during a critical stakeholders' security meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. 

According to Disu, the era of passive policing is officially over. He revealed that the drastic measure follows a direct mandate from President Bola Tinubu, who insisted that the persistent security crises in Benue State and other volatile regions must be brought to an immediate and decisive end.

Invoking Force Order 237

Addressing the gathering, which included top government officials, traditional rulers, and community leaders, the police chief warned that law enforcement agencies will no longer tolerate the brazen display of illegal weapons by non-state actors.

"You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated," the IGP declared firmly.

To back up his directive legally and operationally, Disu disclosed that all officers have been heavily empowered under Force Order 237—a police regulation that allows officers to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for bureaucratic approvals from their superiors.

"We have given them instructions. We have a Force Order 237. Police officers have been instructed that they don’t need to wait for any superior order. They know where to deploy their firearms," he emphasized.

"We Are Tired of Dying"

Justifying the lethality of the new directive, the IGP pointed to the alarming casualty rate among security personnel who have been ambushed or killed by heavily armed syndicates while in the line of duty.

"We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow," Disu lamented. "They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary."

A Call for Civilian Intelligence

While the police have taken a more lethal stance, the IGP acknowledged that firepower alone cannot win the war against terrorism and banditry. He urged residents of Benue State and Nigerians at large to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence.

"We will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you," he added, noting that community cooperation remains the most vital tool in tracking down armed syndicates.

The Wider Security Context

The IGP's directive comes amid a terrifying wave of armed attacks across the country. Benue State, in particular, has witnessed repeated, bloody invasions by armed groups in recent months, resulting in mass casualties, the displacement of farming communities, and the destruction of property. 

The Federal Government's decision to deploy additional personnel and adopt these tougher, "shoot-on-sight" measures indicates a shift toward a more militarized approach to restoring peace in the Middle Belt and beyond. 

Ayekooto Media will continue to monitor the implementation of this controversial directive and the reaction of human rights organizations.

David Alani Ige, (The Scribe)

Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

Phunshor01@gmail.com | publisher@ayekootomediang.com

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