The Force added that the Inspector-General also made it clear that illegal possession of arms and violent killings would not be tolerated across the country.
The Nigeria Police Force has denied widespread reports claiming that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, ordered officers to "shoot on sight" anyone found carrying illegal firearms, insisting that the police chief never issued such a directive during a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State.
In a clarification issued through a statement on Saturday, the Force said the Inspector-General's remarks had been misrepresented, stressing that he merely reiterated existing rules governing the lawful use of firearms by police personnel.
According to the statement titled, "CLARIFICATION: WHAT THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE ACTUALLY SAID IN MAKURDI," the Force stated, "At a stakeholders' meeting in Makurdi, Benue State, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, did not issue any 'shoot-on-sight' order as widely misreported."
The police explained that what the IGP actually told officers was that they had been adequately briefed on Force Order 237, the regulation that governs the legal and operational conditions under which police officers may use firearms while carrying out their duties.
