Worried by the growing cases of Police brutality on the civil populace, Mohammed Adamu mni, acting Inspector-General of police, has disclosed that the police will commence the deployment of less lethal weapons during operations.
He made the revelation at the inauguration of a zonal security stakeholders’ forum, a community policing concept for the police zone XI comprising Ondo, Osun and Oyo states in Osun state.
The IGP, who was represented by Taiwo Lakanu, deputy inspector general of police, said he had commenced the process of addressing factors that engender conflict and distrust between the citizens and the police, particularly issues bordering on misuse of firearms and sundry abuses of police powers.
“Toward this end, we are in the process of migrating from total dependence on lethal weaponry as the first line of police operations toward acquiring and deploying less lethal weaponry such as teaser or stun guns,” said the police IG.
“Under the new policy, personnel on low-risk policing duties like routine patrols, arrest duties, and civil disorder management will be armed with teaser guns or stun guns as a strategic approach toward reducing incidents of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police when faced with low-level threats.’’
The IGP also directed that police officer across the country work eight hours daily as against the twelve-hour shit duty.