- Police Ban Officers In Mufti From Carrying Rifles
- New directive follows attacks on off-duty policemen mistaken for bandits
- Memo circulated to police commands across all 36 states
By Grateful Ogunjebe
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a security directive banning officers in mufti from openly carrying rifles, following a disturbing trend of attacks on off-duty personnel mistaken for terrorists or bandits.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a wireless message from the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Protection, Force Headquarters, Abuja, was sent out to police commands nationwide on July 17, 2025. It warned officers to exercise maximum caution when armed and off duty.
The directive, with reference number CB:0900/DOPS/SPU/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.9/29 SE, specifically addresses officers in volatile areas. It cautioned them against moving with service rifles while dressed in plain clothes within high-risk communities.
The message cited recent incidents where citizens, traumatised by banditry and terrorism, mistook officers in civilian clothing for criminals, triggering deadly consequences.
“Following recent attacks on off-duty policemen in parts of the country mistaken for bandits, DIGPOL DOPS directs personnel, particularly in hostile environments, to exercise caution,” the memo read in part.
The AIG further directed that this warning be treated as a serious lecture topic at all formations. He emphasised the need for professionalism when bearing firearms while off-duty.
“Citizens presume persons in mufti bearing firearms as terrorists if not clearly identified,” the directive continued. “You are to make this a subject of lecture, and treat as very important.”
SaharaReporters, which obtained the document exclusively, listed affected states to include Lagos, Kano, Yola, Makurdi, Benin, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and others across the federation.
The order is believed to be a response to rising insecurity and public tension in many parts of the country, where the line between security operatives and violent non-state actors is increasingly blurred.
Just last week, a police patrol team was attacked in Imo State, resulting in the death of one officer and the disappearance of another. The attackers later released a video boasting of the ambush.
In the video, the armed group threatened to continue targeting police, military, and DSS operatives in Okigwe, accusing them of extortion and unlawful killings.
The police authorities are now moving to tighten protocols for off-duty conduct to reduce chances of misidentification that could result in fatal encounters.
The latest directive is one of several recent moves aimed at retooling security operations, especially in regions grappling with insurgency, banditry, and rising civilian-military tensions.
As public confidence in law enforcement fluctuates, the police hierarchy appears to be re-evaluating internal procedures to limit unintended consequences of daily operations.
The Nigerian public remains on edge, and security agencies continue to walk a tightrope, balancing presence with discretion in increasingly volatile spaces.
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