The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has declared that officers of the Nigeria Police Force will no longer evade accountability for misconduct, following the recent shooting incident in Effurun, Delta State.
Speaking on Thursday in Uyo at the passing-out parade of 1,068 retrained police constables, the IGP emphasized that the era of impunity within the force had come to an end. He stated unequivocally that any officer found guilty of unprofessional behavior, particularly the unlawful use of firearms, would face immediate dismissal and prosecution.
According to him, officers who misuse their weapons or take lives without legal justification will not be protected or reassigned, but will instead be held fully accountable under the law. He underscored that firearms must only be used as a last resort and strictly in line with regulations outlined in Force Order 237.
The police chief further warned against misconduct such as extortion, reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, and reckless handling of weapons, stressing that violators would face both administrative and criminal consequences.
Addressing the newly retrained constables, Disu urged them to uphold professionalism, exercise restraint in the use of force, and maintain respect for citizens, noting that discipline and skill are essential to effective policing.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the establishment of a Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) aimed at strengthening efforts to combat violent crimes. He revealed that some of the retrained officers had been specially selected to form part of the new unit, in line with directives from the IGP.
