Abuja – The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed an immediate comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition across all state police commands to strengthen accountability and prevent the misuse of operational assets.

The directive comes amid public outrage triggered by a viral video showing police officers shooting a restrained and handcuffed man at close range after the discovery of a suspicious package.

In response to the incident, four officers, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nuhu Usman, have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force, with their case files forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.

Speaking at a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja on Tuesday, IGP Disu mandated Commissioners of Police to conduct a thorough, transparent stocktaking exercise and submit detailed reports to the Force Headquarters within the stipulated timeframe.

“I hereby direct all Commissioners of Police to immediately undertake a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their respective Commands. This exercise must be thorough, transparent, and properly documented,” Disu said.

He added: “The objective is clear: to strengthen accountability, identify existing gaps, and provide an accurate assessment of our operational needs. This is not a routine administrative task, but a critical measure to enhance our readiness, prevent misuse, and ensure that all assets entrusted to the Force are properly accounted for and optimally deployed.”

Addressing the extra-judicial killing directly, the IGP condemned the act as unlawful and a gross violation of professional standards.

“That act was wrong. It was unlawful. It violated the sanctity of human life and the professional standards of this Force,” Disu stated.

He confirmed that the officers involved and members of the team have been dismissed, while the case file has been sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. “This matter will not be swept aside. Accountability will be pursued to its full and logical conclusion,” he emphasised.

As part of broader reforms to improve police-community relations, Disu directed Commissioners of Police to hold regular town hall meetings with critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth and women groups, and transport unions.

“These are not ceremonial events,” he said. “Commissioners must sit with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, youth organisations, women’s groups, and transport unions, listening and building genuine partnerships.”

To enhance accessibility, the IGP ordered Commissioners to make their contact details available to community leaders. “When a community leader needs to reach their Commissioner of Police, that line must be open. That is what community policing looks like in practice,” he noted.

Disu also urged citizens to provide timely intelligence to security agencies, saying: “If you see something, say something. We are listening, and we will act.”

In a related development, the Inspector-General announced the restructuring of the police anti-crime architecture with the establishment of a new Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to replace the existing Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units.

According to Disu, the VCRU marks a fundamental shift in addressing serious crimes. Officers will receive specialised training in tactical operations, human rights compliance, intelligence analysis, and rules of engagement. Civilian oversight has been integrated into the unit’s framework from the outset.

“These units will operate strictly on the basis of credible intelligence… and their operations will be subject to structured review,” he said.

The IGP stated that Commissioners of Police will retain full command and accountability for the VCRU in their states and directed that the unit be formally launched with public visibility and the participation of stakeholders.