Senator Adams Oshiomhole has defended the use of deadly force against armed criminals, insisting that security operatives should not hesitate to shoot dangerous offenders when necessary.
The Edo North lawmaker made the remarks on Monday, July 27, 2026, during an interview on TVC News, where he criticised the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, Olatunji Disu, over what he described as an apologetic stance on the use of firearms against criminals.
“That’s why when this IG was saying he didn’t say ‘shoot at sight,’ why is he apologetic? Shoot at sight. If you see a criminal, shoot on sight,” Oshiomhole said.
His comments came after the Nigeria Police Force clarified that the Inspector General did not issue a “shoot on sight” directive. Instead, the police explained that Disu was referring to Force Order 237, which outlines the legal and operational conditions governing the use of firearms by police officers.
According to the Force, the Inspector General had only reminded officers of the provisions of the order and the rules of engagement guiding the deployment of firearms in the line of duty.
Oshiomhole also commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for appealing a court judgment that sentenced convicted offenders to life imprisonment instead of death.
“I have said that judges should implement the law, not their personal sentiment. I’m also happy that the DSS is doing its job.
“They have appealed the judgment where people who should have been condemned to death were given life imprisonment,” he said.
Speaking on President Bola Tinubu’s chances ahead of the 2027 general election, Oshiomhole described insecurity as the administration’s biggest political challenge.
He urged the President to give the nation’s service chiefs a clear deadline to end insecurity and hold them accountable for results.
“I would tell him to do everything he can to direct the armed forces to ensure that the service chiefs understand that they have a duty to terminate insecurity within the next few months,” he said.
The former Edo State governor stressed that there must be measurable benchmarks to assess the military’s performance.
“There has to be a benchmark to measure what we give them and the results that we get, and whether it’s commensurate. It is better he beats down their necks than anything else,” he added.
Oshiomhole argued that the Tinubu administration had already introduced the necessary macroeconomic reforms, leaving insecurity as the country’s major obstacle.
“See, the President has put all the necessary macroeconomic tools in place. The only limiting factor is this insecurity. And unfortunately, it is an issue that cannot be terminated overnight. But Nigerians want to see consistent, deliberate effort,” he said.
He also cited the ongoing recruitment of 20,000 additional military personnel and the creation of new Army divisions as evidence of the Federal Government’s determination to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“So I think on all fronts, the war is being waged. The DSS is working. We are beginning to see the Air Force more engaged. The Army, we have created more divisions, which reflects the fact that the President believes that we can’t continue to do the same thing the same old way,” he said.
Responding to criticism that President Tinubu has not been visible enough in office, Oshiomhole dismissed the claim, saying the President has consistently presided over meetings, addressed public forums and spoken on key national issues.
“I don’t understand what is meant by visibility. Because I see the President addressing various forums. I see him receiving and presiding over meetings. I see him commenting on a wide range of issues that have to do with the Nigerian political economy and society,” he said.
He added that criticism from the opposition was a normal feature of democracy, insisting that the ruling party also had the right to respond.
“There is nothing the President is going to say that the opposition will not fault. That is the legitimate business of the opposition. I don’t grudge them, provided they understand that if they cast a stone, we have a right to return that stone. The day the opposition joins in praising the President, then that is the end of democracy,” he said.
Oshiomhole maintained that democracy thrives on debate and political contest, expressing confidence that Nigerians would make informed choices in the next election.
He also linked the emergence of Peter Obi as a major political force in the 2023 election to public dissatisfaction during the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Last time they voted in anger. That is why I brought up the issue of the former president. I’m not blaming him, he’s no more. May his soul rest in peace. But that situation is what produced Obi,” he said.
