“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated.” — IG Olatunji Disu
The gloves are off. The era of “wait-and-see” policing is dead.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has given Nigeria’s police force the deadliest order of their careers: shoot on sight anyone caught with illegal firearms.
No warnings. No questions. No waiting for a superior officer’s permission.
The directive, issued Friday at a crisis meeting in Makurdi, is a direct response to President Bola Tinubu’s furious demand to end the bloodbath in Benue State—a region that has become a killing field for armed gangs.
‘FORCE ORDER 237’ – THE GREEN LIGHT TO KILL
Disu revealed that officers have been empowered under Force Order 237 to deploy their firearms decisively against armed threats—without bureaucratic delays.
“Police officers have been instructed that they don’t need to wait for any superior order. They know where to deploy their firearms,” Disu declared.
The message was chillingly clear: carry an illegal gun, and you carry a death sentence.
‘WE ARE TIRED OF LOSING OUR MEN’
The IG didn’t hide his frustration.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of countless funerals.
“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary.”
PUBLIC URGED: ‘INFORM OR PERISH WITH THE CRIMINALS‘
But Disu warned that police alone cannot win this war. He made a desperate plea to residents: share intelligence, or watch your state burn.
“We will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” he stressed.
BENUE’S BURNING – WHY THIS ORDER NOW?
Benue State has become a graveyard.
Armed groups have turned communities into war zones—razing villages, slaughtering families, and displacing thousands. The federal government has poured in troops and adopted increasingly ruthless tactics.
But the killing continues.
Now, Tinubu’s administration is betting on extreme force to restore order.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
· Illegal gun carriers: You are now a target. No arrest. No trial. Just bullets.
· Law-abiding citizens: Cooperate with security forces. Your silence could cost lives.
· Police officers: You have been given the deadliest authority. Use it wisely or face the consequences.
The question remains: Will this trigger a bloodbath or finally bring peace to Benue?
One thing is certain: Nigeria’s policing has just entered its most dangerous chapter yet.
