‘Shoot Criminals On Sight’ — Oshiomhole Criticises IGP Disu Over Firearms Directive.

 

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has criticised Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu for appearing apologetic over comments concerning the shooting of criminals, insisting that security operatives should not hesitate to shoot armed criminals.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News, the Edo North lawmaker questioned why the police chief appeared to be distancing himself from the controversial “shoot-on-sight” remark.

“That’s why when this IG was saying he didn’t say ‘shoot at sight’. Why is he apologetic? Shoot at sight. If you see a criminal, shoot on sight,” Oshiomhole said.

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier clarified that Disu did not issue an order for officers to “shoot on sight”. The police said the IGP was referring to Force Order 237, which sets out the legal and operational conditions governing the use of firearms by police officers.

Disu had explained that officers were briefed on the provisions of the order and were expected to operate within established Rules of Engagement.

Oshiomhole also commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for appealing a court judgment that sentenced convicted offenders to life imprisonment instead of death.

“I have said that judges should implement the law, not their personal sentiment. I’m also happy that the DSS is doing its job. They have appealed the judgment where people who should have been condemned to death were given life imprisonment,” he said.

Asked about what he considered the biggest political risk to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the next election, Oshiomhole identified insecurity as the major challenge facing the President's re-election bid.

He called on Tinubu to set a clear deadline for the nation's security chiefs to end the country's security challenges.

“I would tell him to do everything he can to direct the armed forces to ensure that the service chiefs understand that they have a duty to terminate insecurity within the next few months,” he said.

Oshiomhole also called for greater accountability in the fight against insecurity, stressing the need to measure the resources allocated to the security agencies against the results achieved.

“There has to be a benchmark to measure what we give them and the results that we get, and whether it’s commensurate. It is better he beats down their necks than anything else,” he added.