Police Launch Nationwide Arms Audit, Dismiss Officers Over Viral Shooting Incident
The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide audit of arms and ammunition across all police commands to improve accountability and prevent misuse of weapons.
The directive follows public outrage over a viral video showing police officers shooting a handcuffed man at close range after a suspicious package was discovered. In response, four officers, led by ASP Nuhu Usman, have been dismissed from the force, with their case forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.
Speaking during a meeting with senior officers in Abuja, the IGP instructed all commissioners of police to carry out a detailed and transparent stocktaking of weapons within their commands and submit reports to the Force Headquarters within a set timeframe. He stressed that the audit is a critical step toward strengthening accountability, identifying gaps, and ensuring proper deployment of operational assets.
Condemning the incident, Disu described the killing as unlawful and a violation of professional standards, vowing that justice would be pursued fully.
He also directed police commissioners to hold regular town hall meetings with key community stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and market associations, to strengthen community policing and intelligence gathering. Commissioners were further instructed to make themselves accessible to community leaders.
The IGP urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies by sharing useful information, assuring that such reports would be acted upon.
In addition, Disu announced a major restructuring of the police anti-crime system with the creation of a new unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), which replaces the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. The new unit will focus on intelligence-driven operations, human rights compliance, and strict oversight, including civilian involvement.
He emphasized that the VCRU represents a significant shift in tackling violent crime, with state commissioners retaining full responsibility for its operations and accountability.
