Police Dismiss Three Senior Officers Over Misuse Of Firearms

By Our Correspondent

Three senior officers have been dismissed by the Nigeria Police Force over the misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who announced their dismissal in a statement issued on Thursday said the policemen acted in an unprofessional conduct and misuse of firearms.

The officers including Inspector Dahiru Shuaibu, Sergeant Abdullahi Badamasi and Sergeant Isah Danladi, who were formerly attached to a Kano musician on escort duties, were caught on video on Friday, April 7, firing live rounds into the air.

Adejobi said, “Subsequent to complaints and findings on video evidence widely circulated on Friday, April 7, 2023, on social media of high-handedness, unprofessional conduct, and misuse of firearms against some policemen from Special Protection Unit, Base 1, Kano, and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, three officers from the SPU Base 1 Kano have been dismissed for the offences of discreditable conduct to wit misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition.”

“In the course of their duty on Friday, April 7 at Kahutu Village, Katsina State, the officers repeatedly fired shots from their official firearms into the air despite police policy against firing in the air, standard operating procedure and relevant Force orders.

The Force Public Relations Officer noted that the officers disregarded the safety of the people at the location stating that the action was embarrassing to the force.

“And disregarding the possible risk to the crowd at the location which included children. The act was not only criminal and unprofessional but also embarrassing to the Force and the nation at large.”

Adejobi further mentioned that the NPF has warned all officers to ensure that they carry out their duties in line with the extant laws to avoid running afoul of its provisions and attracting attendant sanctions.

He added that supervising officers have also been tasked to ensure continuous and detailed lectures of their men to ensure that they are well acquainted with all necessary standard operating procedures.