IG Orders Police to Shoot Anyone Carrying Illegal Firearms Nationwide

• IGP Olatunji Disu invokes Force Order 237, declares ‘no mercy’ for illegal gun carriers in new security crackdown following President Tinubu’s directive to end Benue State crisis

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a sweeping directive ordering police officers across Nigeria to shoot on sight anyone found carrying illegal firearms, marking one of the toughest security measures adopted by the Nigeria Police Force in recent years as the government intensifies efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons and restore public safety across the country .

The directive was announced on Friday during a high-level stakeholders’ security meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, where the police chief declared that law enforcement agencies would no longer tolerate the unchecked proliferation of illegal weapons or the activities of armed groups responsible for persistent attacks on communities that have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced in recent months . The meeting was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other security stakeholders who had gathered to find lasting solutions to the worsening security situation in the state .

According to Disu, the order followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the prolonged insecurity in Benue State must be decisively addressed, assuring residents that security agencies had been mandated to take more proactive and robust action against those threatening lives and property across the state . The police chief described the insecurity in Benue State as unacceptable and a source of “sleepless nights” for residents and security agencies, noting that Benue was once known as a peaceful and hospitable state with a thriving agricultural economy but had been overtaken by violence that now threatens national food security .

Disu explained that the order is anchored on Force Order 237, the Nigeria Police Force operational guideline governing the use of firearms by officers in situations involving imminent threats to life, adding that police personnel have been fully briefed on the provisions of the order and no longer require approval from superior officers before responding to armed threats where immediate action is necessary . “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,” Disu stated, emphasizing that the directive empowers officers to act decisively in the face of armed danger without bureaucratic delays that could cost lives .

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The police chief said the directive was also aimed at protecting security personnel who have increasingly come under attack while responding to incidents across the country, lamenting the continued killing of police officers, soldiers, and other security agents by armed criminals who have shown no regard for law and order . “We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow. They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” he declared, stressing that law enforcement agencies were determined to protect their officers while carrying out their constitutional duties .

Disu stressed that only members of authorised security agencies are legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that anyone found openly carrying illegal weapons would henceforth be regarded as an armed threat and treated accordingly . “You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said, issuing a stern warning to those who have turned the possession of illegal firearms into a status symbol or a tool of intimidation against innocent citizens .

The directive comes against a backdrop of repeated attacks by armed groups across Benue State in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of thousands of residents, and destruction of property worth millions of naira . Just days before the IGP’s directive, gunmen attacked Ankpechi community in Ohimini Local Government Area, forcing over 1,000 residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring communities . In another recent incident, at least eight people—including three children—were killed in Otukpo Local Government Area, with police describing the attack as “purely a terrorist attack” and launching a manhunt for the perpetrators .

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, who was present at the stakeholders’ meeting, appreciated the IGP’s visit, describing it as timely and a demonstration of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling insecurity through community policing and collaboration with state governments . Alia regretted that attacks on communities in the state had resulted in the loss of many lives, disruption of farming activities, and threats to national food security, while also commending the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in their ongoing fight against armed groups in the state .

The IGP called on residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against insecurity and the success of ongoing security operations . He noted that intelligence gathered from local residents remains one of the most effective tools in combating insecurity and dismantling criminal networks, adding that community members should see themselves as partners in the fight against crime rather than mere spectators . “The Nigeria Police Force will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you,” Disu emphasised, maintaining that officers would continue to operate within the law while taking decisive action against individuals posing immediate danger to public safety .

The development follows the IGP’s earlier warning to officers against the reckless use of firearms and abuse of power . During a police leadership engagement in Uyo, Disu had said: “Impunity ends now. Any officer who misuses his weapon, who kills a citizen without lawful justification, will be dismissed and prosecuted. Not transferred. Not queried. Not redeployed. No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice,” demonstrating the police chief’s commitment to balancing the use of force with accountability and respect for human rights . In a related development, the IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling the spread of illegal firearms across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning during a meeting with officials of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons that the continued circulation of illegal arms remains a major threat to national security and peaceful elections .

IG Orders Police to Shoot Anyone Carrying Illegal Firearms Nationwide

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe

• Operation HADIN KAI troops and local hunters conduct coordinated intelligence-led raid in Jegalari Village, recover firearms and mobile phones as military intensifies crackdown on criminal networks in North-East

Troops of Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), working alongside members of the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested five suspected kidnappers during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in Jegalari Village, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State, in a major breakthrough that underscores the military’s renewed commitment to dismantling criminal networks operating across the North-East region.

The operation, which was carried out on July 23, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., involved troops of the 233 Battalion based at the Damaturu Military Cantonment and followed credible intelligence indicating the activities of suspected criminal elements within the community, according to security expert Zagazola Makama, who first disclosed the operation on social media. The successful raid came after days of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the suspected kidnappers’ hideout, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaboration between military forces and local security stakeholders.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Hassan Lawan (28), Isah Bello (30), Haruna Suleiman (20), Ibrahim Bello (20), and Ahmadu Haruna (19) , with preliminary investigation revealing that the suspects are indigenes of Ririn Village in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State. The suspects, who identified themselves as members of the Fulani ethnic group and claimed to be cattle rearers, are now in military custody as investigations continue into their alleged involvement in kidnapping and other criminal activities that have terrorized communities in Yobe State and surrounding areas.

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During the operation, security personnel recovered a significant cache of weapons and items, including three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, one locally made pistol, two rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, 12 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, three Tecno mobile phones, and one Android phone . The recovery of these weapons, particularly the locally fabricated rifles, suggests a sophisticated level of arms manufacturing or acquisition that raises concerns about the proliferation of illegal firearms in the region and the potential connection of the suspects to larger criminal syndicates.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Friday, the Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the raid followed actionable intelligence on the activities of the suspected criminal elements, adding that the suspects and the recovered exhibits have been taken into military custody for further investigation to determine their involvement in kidnapping and other related criminal activities. Goni reaffirmed that Operation HADIN KAI remains resolute in its commitment to denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North East through sustained intelligence-driven operations that target not only Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists but also the growing threat of kidnapping and banditry affecting communities in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states.

According to security sources, the security situation in the area has been calm following the operation, although security forces remain on alert to prevent any retaliatory or related criminal activities, reflecting the military’s awareness that such operations often trigger reprisal attacks or the relocation of criminal elements to other areas. The successful operation forms part of ongoing intelligence-driven efforts by Operation HADIN KAI and other security stakeholders to dismantle kidnapping and criminal networks operating across the North-East and adjoining states, with the military increasingly adopting a proactive rather than reactive approach to security threats in the region.

The military also appealed to residents to remain alert and continue supporting security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent criminal activities, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital to the success of counter-insurgency and anti-crime operations. “Timely and credible information from law-abiding citizens remains critical to ongoing efforts to safeguard communities and enhance security across the region,” the statement added, underscoring the military’s recognition that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through partnership between security forces and the communities they serve. Local community leaders in Fune LGA have welcomed the operation, expressing hope that the arrests will bring relief to residents who have lived in fear of kidnapping attacks in recent months.

Troops, Hunters Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers, Seize Weapons in Yobe

“No Governor Has Such Power” – MC Oluomo Fires Back at Gov Adeleke Over Osun NURTW Ban

• NURTW national president rejects suspension order, inaugurates caretaker committee as Osun government insists Alowonle remains substantive chairman amid deepening leadership crisis

The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has firmly rejected the Osun State Government’s decision to suspend the union’s activities across the state, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke lacks the constitutional authority to take such action and warning that the union would not comply with what he described as an illegal directive.

Governor Adeleke had on Thursday directed the immediate suspension of all NURTW operations in motor parks across Osun State, a decision announced by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, following a meeting of the State Security Council chaired by the governor. The directive also instructed the police to halt the collection of levies by the union in all parks and ordered security agencies to arrest anyone parading as NURTW officials or executives, effectively crippling the union’s activities across the state.

Responding to the development during a press conference at the union’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, MC Oluomo, who was represented by the Deputy National President, Aliyu Ore, maintained that no state governor possesses the legal authority to suspend the operations of the NURTW, arguing that the union is a legally established national body governed by an Act of the National Assembly and has previously secured court victories against similar actions by state governments. He emphasized that the union operates under federal legislation and is not subject to the whims of any state governor, regardless of the circumstances.

“Today, we heard that the state governor in Osun suspended the activities of our union, which they don’t have the power to do. Not any single state governor has the power to suspend the activities of the union because we are not under any state. There is an Act that established the NURTW,” Ore stated on behalf of MC Oluomo, adding that the union’s legal team had been directed to review the government’s action and advise on appropriate next steps.

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The national leadership of the NURTW also went a step further by inaugurating a seven-man caretaker committee to manage the union’s affairs in Osun State, a move seen as a direct challenge to the state government’s authority. The committee is chaired by Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, with Sunday Oludare serving as secretary and Lukman Ahmed as treasurer, while other members include Ismaila Abdurahim, Adebayo Tajudin, Tajudin Akin, and Ayinde Mutiu. MC Oluomo explained that the caretaker committee would remain in place until all issues affecting the union in the state are resolved, adding that the need to establish a leadership structure in Osun is linked to the forthcoming governorship election and the union’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the distribution of electoral materials.

“We have MoU with INEC. In view of this, we have to inaugurate the caretaker members who are to mount the leadership of the NURTW pending the time we resolve all issues attached to Osun,” he said, stressing that the union has a critical role to play in the electoral process and cannot afford to be paralyzed by what he termed an overreach by the state government.

The crisis in Osun State stems from a protracted factional leadership dispute that has divided the union, with rival groups laying claim to the leadership of the state chapter. The situation escalated when a faction led by Kazeem Oyewale staged a protest against the leadership of the state NURTW chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle, leading to violent confrontations at motor parks in Osogbo that disrupted commercial activities and raised security concerns across the state. Reports indicate that the Oyewale faction had taken over the union’s state secretariat in the Ijetu area of Osogbo despite the government’s suspension order, further complicating efforts to restore normalcy.

The Osun State Government, however, has declared the purported appointment of Kazeem Oyewale as chairman of the Osun State Council of the NURTW as “null and void and of no effect,” affirming that Comrade Nurudeen Alowonle remains the substantive chairman of the union in the state and that the government does not recognize any parallel leadership structure. In a statement clarifying the government’s position, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that Governor Adeleke did not dissolve the union’s leadership at any time, explaining that the Security Council’s directive was merely a suspension of activities pending the restoration of peace in the parks, not a removal of the Alowonle-led executive.

“At no time did the state government dissolve the executives of the NURTW at all levels. What the Security Council directive is all about is to suspend all activities of the union in all our parks pending the restoration of peace in all the parks,” Alimi clarified, urging the public to disregard any claims suggesting that the government had sided with any faction in the dispute.

The government further directed security agencies to “flush out Asiri Eniba and his gang” from all motor parks, noting that he has no legal basis to operate there and warning that anyone found causing trouble or operating illegally would face the full weight of the law. It added that once security improves in the parks, the NURTW under Alowonle will resume normal operations across the state without hindrance, effectively maintaining that the government recognizes only the Alowonle-led executive as the legitimate leadership of the union in Osun.

As the standoff continues, tensions remain high in Osun State’s motor parks, with commuters and transport workers caught in the crossfire of a leadership battle that shows no signs of abating. Political observers have expressed concern that the crisis could have implications for the upcoming governorship election, given the NURTW’s historical role in mobilizing voters and distributing electoral materials under its MoU with INEC. Meanwhile, both MC Oluomo and Governor Adeleke appear unwilling to back down, setting the stage for a protracted legal and political battle over who holds the legitimate authority to determine the union’s leadership and operations in Osun State.

“No Governor Has Such Power” – MC Oluomo Fires Back at Gov Adeleke Over Osun NURTW Ban