The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has declared an end to recklessness and impunity within the Nigeria Police Force, warning that officers who misuse their authority will face immediate dismissal and prosecution.
Disu made this known on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the passing-out parade of 1,068 retrained police constables at the Police Mobile Force Base, 26 PMF, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing the newly retrained personnel, the IGP stressed that professionalism, discipline, and accountability must define modern policing, noting that the misuse of firearms and abuse of power would no longer be tolerated.
He cautioned that “no badge is a licence to kill and no uniform is a shield from justice,” emphasizing that any officer found culpable in unlawful killings would be decisively dealt with.
“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.
Disu underscored the importance of skill and discipline in policing, warning that “an unskilled officer with a gun is a danger to the public,” while a well-trained and disciplined officer remains a true guardian of society.
Reiterating the relevance of Force Order 237, he reminded officers that the use of firearms must be a last resort, applied proportionately and strictly within the limits of the law.
The IGP also warned against unprofessional conduct, including extortion, reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, and reckless handling of weapons, stating that offenders would face summary dismissal alongside criminal prosecution.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for its initiative in retraining female officers in arms handling, noting that competence in policing is not determined by gender.
Disu further charged the constables to carry out their duties with restraint and integrity, urging them to wear their uniforms with dignity and treat citizens with respect.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, revealed that the retrained officers include a specially selected unit for the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
According to Azare, the unit was created in line with the IGP’s directive to serve as a strategic strike force against violent crimes across the state.
He highlighted recent operational achievements of the command, including the safe evacuation of explosive devices at the Ikot Ekpene custodial centre and the successful rescue of kidnapped victims along the Calabar–Oron waterways through coordinated inter-agency efforts.
Azare reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening community policing and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information.
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