In the long term, rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology, commonly known as taser or stun guns by police.

Adamu Mohammed, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), says the Force will introduce stun guns in place of live ammunition for police officers  on routine patrol.

IGP Adamu said this when he visited the Lagos Police Command in Monday.

Adamu condemned the unprofessional conduct of some of the officers, adding that the officers found culpable of misuse of firearms would be punished.

He said: “From January to April 2019, Lagos State has recorded four incidents of misuse of firearms, which have resulted in extra-judicial killings of young citizens of this country and injury to others.

“More worrisome is that two of these incidents occurred within the last two weeks.

“Aside negating our professional calling, extra-judicial acts of any description or level by any police personnel is an unacceptable anomaly that creates disdain between the citizens and their police and widens the trust gap between them,’’ he said.

Speaking on the introduction of stun guns to the Force, IGP Adamu said: “In the long term, rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology, commonly known as taser or stun guns by police.

“It will be used for routine patrols as a strategic approach towards reducing incidents of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police.

“In perfecting these initiatives, we shall be engaging with human rights bodies, international agencies, development partners and civil society organisations.”

Reading the riot act to all police officers, the IGP said erring officers shall be dismissed from the service and prosecuted for murder.

“The person will be investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery and if found culpable, shall be dismissed from service. In addition, such personnel will be charged to court for murder or sundry offences depending on his or her level of criminal liability in the instance,” he said.

He added that the line supervisors of such officers, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Head, shall be held liable for lacking supervision and shall be similarly sanctioned.

He noted that the force would re-train all of its officers nationwide and organise a “reorientation of personnel in compliance with human rights and professional conducts”.