The right of a security officer in Nigeria to use firearms, often referred to as a “shooting license,” is strictly regulated by law and is not absolute.
The boundaries of this right are shaped by national legislation, security regulations, and international human rights standards.
Security officers, including the police and armed forces, are among the few categories of individuals authorized to carry firearms in Imo and Nigeria at large.
The Firearms Act vests the authority to issue firearm licenses in the President and the Inspector General of Police, and only for specific purposes and categories of persons.
Private citizens’ rights to bear arms are heavily restricted, and recent executive orders have further limited gun possession to only authorized security personnel.
The use of firearms by security officers is governed by both Nigerian law and international standards. According to the Nigeria Police Force’s Use of Force Order, officers may only use firearms under the following circumstances:
- In self-defence or defence of others against an imminent threat of death or serious injury. – To prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life (violent felony).
- To arrest a person presenting such danger and resisting authority, or to prevent their escape.
- Only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives.
The right to shoot is not a carte blanche and the law has therefore imposed some limits.
Security officers must always apply the principle of proportionality—using only the minimum force necessary to achieve a lawful objective.
Lethal force is considered a last resort, permissible only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
Whenever a firearm is discharged, the officer is required by law and police regulations to justify the action.
This includes providing detailed reports and submitting to internal investigations. Unlawful or excessive use of force can result in criminal prosecution, dismissal, or both.
Nigeria is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
These instruments require that the right to life is protected, and any use of lethal force must be justified, necessary, and proportionate. Arbitrary or excessive use of firearms constitutes a violation of these rights.
For example, a police officer cannot shoot at a fleeing suspect unless that suspect poses an imminent threat to life.
Similarly, shooting to disperse a peaceful protest or in response to non-violent resistance is unlawful. The officer must always consider alternative, less-lethal means first.
During riots or civil disturbances, the use of firearms is even more tightly controlled. Officers are instructed to use non-lethal methods such as tear gas, batons, or water cannons.
Firearms can only be used if there is a direct threat to life that cannot be contained otherwise.
Security officers who exceed their legal authority to shoot may face disciplinary action, civil lawsuits, or criminal charges.
Victims or their families can seek redress through the courts, and public outcry often leads to independent investigations.
Recent policy changes, including the suspension of new firearm licenses for civilians and increased scrutiny of armed security officers, reflect ongoing concerns about misuse of firearms and the need for stricter controls.
In summary, while security officers in Nigeria hold the legal authority to use firearms, this right is not unlimited.
It is bounded by strict legal, procedural, and ethical standards. The right to shoot ends where the use of force becomes unnecessary, disproportionate, or unjustified.
Any deviation exposes the officer to legal consequences and undermines public trust in law enforcement.
C- Advocate therefore calls on security agencies to provide the requisite training to their officers, to regulate, and possibly stop indiscriminate shooting, a menace which has done society no good.
The use of firearms by security personnel is not a license to brazen shooting, at least not under Nigeria’s laws.