The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the dismissal of three operatives over the misuse of firearms while escorting a popular Kano-based musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, in Kahutu Village, Katsina State.

The affected officers are Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi, and Sgt. Isah Danladi.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Thursday, said the officers were assigned to escort a musician in Kano and were caught on video repeatedly firing shots from their official firearms into the air, despite the Commission’s policy against such offences.

The Police noted that the conduct of the officers amounted to misuse of firearms despite their knowledge of the policy against firing in the air, standard operating procedure and relevant Force Orders.

The statement noted that such an act also disregarded “the possible risk to the crowd at the location, which included children. The act was not only criminal and unprofessional but also embarrassing to the Force and the nation at large”.

Inspector Shuaibu, Sergeant Badamasi, and Sergeant Danladi attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 1, Kano were arrested and subjected to an orderly room trial.

They were subsequently found culpable, and according to the police, the video was enough proof of high-handedness, unprofessional conduct, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition.

The Force, however, warned all officers to ensure that they carried out their duties in line with the extant laws to avoid running foul of their provisions and attracting attendant sanctions.

“Supervising officers have also been tasked to ensure continuous and detailed lectures of their men to ensure they are well acquainted with all necessary standard operating procedures,” the statement added.