We’ll introduce stun guns to replace firearms - IGP Arase, says robbers in Lagos have resorted to kidnapping

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase
says that the Nigeria Police Force will soon
replace stun guns with firearms as part of efforts
to reduce casualties from the misuse of firearms
by some police officers. Arase said this while
speaking at the Police Commissioners Conference
held in Abuja yesterday February 3rd.
"Right now, what we are trying to do is to
discourage issuing firearms to police officers,
who go on metro patrol. And that is why we are
thinking of introducing stun guns this year. Stun
guns can incapacitate you, demobilise you, but
they will not kill you.
So, in case there is a mistake, then we will be
able to ensure that the fatality is not such that
will result in death. It is also true that from
statistics we have internal mechanisms for
dealing with people who engage in misuse of
firearms and I must tell you that many of them
have been dismissed. But it is not every day you
will see it on the pages of the paper that they
have been dismissed” he said
While speaking at the conference, Arase also
revealed that intelligence gathering by the police
revealed that armed robbers in Lagos state have
resorted to kidnapping
“We have a new challenge now in Lagos
because after we have been able to mop up
the bank robbers that come from the
waterways, it looks as if they have found a
new vocation in kidnapping, especially in
Festac and Amuwo Odofin. We are
addressing those issues and I can assure
you that those people will be caught. It
takes time though; you know crime is
always committed but the indomitable
fighting spirit of the police force has to be
strengthened and that is what we are trying
to do. Also, the supervisory role of the
commissioners of police, divisional
commanders, area commanders must be
strengthened because I think that is where
we are having a gap and I can assure you
that we will make sure that we resolve it.”
he said