‘Your uniform is not a licence to kill,’ IGP warns policemen

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to 1,068 retrained police constables, declaring that the era of impunity within the Nigeria Police Force is over and stressing that no officer is above the law.

Mr Disu gave the warning on Thursday during the passing-out parade of retrained constables at the Police Mobile Force Base, 26 PMF, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he cautioned against reckless use of firearms and abuse of authority.

“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,” he said.

“No badge is a license to kill. No uniform is a shield from justice.”

Crackdown on misconduct

The IGP emphasised that officers found engaging in unlawful killings, extortion, or reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol would face immediate dismissal and possible criminal prosecution.

He warned that an unskilled officer carrying arms poses a serious threat to public safety, stressing that professionalism and discipline must define policing in Nigeria.

Rules on use of force

Mr Disu reiterated that Force Order 237 remains binding on all personnel, stating that firearms must only be used as a last resort and strictly within legal limits.

He urged officers to exercise restraint and uphold the dignity of the uniform while respecting the rights of citizens.

The IGP also commended the Akwa Ibom Police Command for its efforts in retraining officers, including female personnel in arms handling, noting that competence—not gender—determines effectiveness in policing.

He charged the newly retrained constables to carry out their duties with professionalism and integrity.

Strategic security measures

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, disclosed that some of the retrained officers would form part of a newly established Violent Crime Response Unit aimed at tackling serious crimes across the state.

He highlighted recent successes by the command, including the evacuation of explosive devices at Ikot Ekpene custodial centre and the rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways through joint security operations.

Mr Azare reaffirmed the command’s commitment to community policing and urged residents to support law enforcement efforts with timely and credible information.