Your uniform not a licence to kill, IG warns policemen

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to police officers across the country, declaring that the use of force outside the law will no longer be tolerated.

 

Disu gave the warning on Thursday during the passing-out parade of 1,068 retrained constables at the Police Mobile Force Base, 26 PMF, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he stressed that the era of impunity within the Force had come to an end.

 

“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,” he said.

 

The police chief noted that professionalism and discipline must define modern policing, warning that an untrained or reckless officer poses a serious threat to public safety.

 

He reiterated that Force Order 237 remains in full effect, emphasising that firearms must only be used as a last resort and strictly within the confines of the law.

 

Disu also cautioned officers against misconduct, including extortion, reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, and the careless handling of firearms, adding that violators would face immediate dismissal and possible prosecution.

 

He urged the retrained officers to uphold the integrity of the Force, stating that they must carry their weapons “with pride but restraint” and treat members of the public with respect and dignity.

 

The IGP commended the Akwa Ibom State Command for leading the retraining initiative, particularly the inclusion of female officers in arms handling programmes, noting that competence in policing is not determined by gender.

 

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Azare, said some of the retrained personnel had been deployed to the newly created Violent Crime Response Unit, aimed at tackling violent crimes.

 

He highlighted recent operational successes, including the safe evacuation of explosive devices at the Ikot Ekpene custodial centre and the rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways.

 

Azare also called on residents to support the police with timely and credible information, reaffirming the command’s commitment to community policing.