Amid mounting public scrutiny, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, sternly cautioned officers that uniforms and badges provide neither a license to commit violence nor immunity from the law, signaling that the era of force-wide impunity has come to an end.
The IGP made these remarks on Thursday, April 30, 2026, during his keynote address at the passing-out parade of 1,068 retrained constable officers. The ceremony, held at the Police Mobile Base, 26 PMF in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, marked a pivotal shift toward professionalising the force’s grassroots tactical response.
While addressing the need for retraining, IGP Olatunji Disu revealed he has issued an uncompromising directive to all Commissioners of Police and Squadron Commanders nationwide to prioritise combat and arms-handling retraining.
“I gave that instruction because a policeman who cannot defend himself cannot defend the citizens,” Disu stated. “A constable who fears his weapon is a danger to the public. We will only certify those who are competent to bear firearms.”
The retraining program follows a series of tragic incidents involving accidental discharges and extrajudicial actions. Highlighting the recent killing of a suspect in Delta State, the IGP described such acts as a “betrayal” of the police mandate.
He reminded the graduating officers that their use of firearms must be in strict adherence to Force Order 237. “We have witnessed too many avoidable deaths. You cannot exercise restraint if you are driven by fear. This training has taught you weapon mastery so you never fire unless you intend to fire.”
In a departure from past administrative leniency, IGP Olatunji Disu promised swift and severe consequences for misconduct. He clarified that any officer who kills a citizen without lawful justification would no longer face mere transfers or queries.
“You will be dismissed and prosecuted and not transferred, not redeployed—dismissed and handed over to the law. No badge is a license to kill; no uniform is a shield from justice. That is my promise.”
Addressing the people of Akwa Ibom, Disu called for a symbiotic relationship between the police and the public. He encouraged citizens to report misbehaviour through established mechanisms while also commending officers who act justly.
To the 1,068 newly retrained constables, his final charge was one of professional pride: “The real examination begins tomorrow when you return to the streets. Carry your weapon with restraint, speak to citizens with respect, and when the moment requires courage, do not run.”
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