Oshiomhole faults IGP Disu, says criminals must be shot on sight

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has faulted the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for appearing apologetic over the shooting of criminals, insisting that security operatives should shoot armed criminals without hesitation.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News, the Edo North lawmaker criticized the police chief’s stance:

“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.”

The Nigeria Police Force recently clarified that the IGP did not issue a “shoot-on-sight” order, stating instead that he was referring to Force Order 237, which governs the legal and operational conditions for the deployment of firearms by police officers. Disu had explained that officers were briefed on the provisions of the order and understood the established Rules of Engagement.

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

“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.”

Asked what he considered the President’s biggest political risk ahead of the next election, Oshiomhole identified insecurity as the main obstacle standing in the way of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. He urged the President to give the service chiefs a firm deadline to end the threat:

“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.”

Insisting on accountability, Oshiomhole added:
“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.”