Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has said that stun guns will soon be introduced as part of efforts to reduce casualties associated with misuse of firearms by police officers.
He said the Police authority was trying to discourage issuing firearms to police officers, who go on metro patrol. He noted that stun guns may be introduced this year.
On how stun gun works, Arase said: “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.”
Arase also spoke on the rate of Kidnapping in the country, he admitted that the rate of kidnapping was increasing and poses a challenge to the police.
He said: “In my opening remark, I mentioned that we have serious challenges with kidnapping in some areas in the country because it is not all over the country and once these things happen, the way the press publicises it gives the impression that there is a near state of anomie; but this is not true.”
He said: “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, he said.
