I can never clap for any president who gives a shoot-on-sight order – Falana

The human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has criticized the shoot-on-sight order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari on persons found with AK-47 rifles.

It was earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered security agents to shoot anyone seen with AK-47 rifles in forests across the country.

But while speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, The Human rights lawyer insisted that such a directive should come from the president himself, and through a signed executive declaration.

He condemned those commending the President for issuing a shoot-on-sight order, adding that without the necessary legal backing, the directive is useless, he explained that existing laws require that those with illegal arms should be disarmed, arrested, prosecuted, and jailed if found guilty.

Falana noted that innocent persons might also be affected as a result of the directive to security agencies.

He said: “By virtue of section 35 of the firearms act, the president has to make a proclamation with respect to the prohibition of possession of firearms and ammunition; that is the law. There has to be a proclamation,” he said.

“This cannot be an announcement by a media aide of the president. The president has to make a declaration and sign it as if he is issuing an executive order and the condition would have to be stipulated because the announcement was to the effect that those who are carrying AK-47 in the bushes should be shot on sight.”

“I can never clap for any president who gives a shoot-on-sight order. We criticized President Obasanjo when he gave a shoot-on-sight order on the OPC members. We criticized President Buhari when he gave a shoot-on-sight order on election riggers in 2019. We made it clear then and now that there are provisions of the law for dealing with election riggers, allegations of murder, possession of firearms,” he said.

“When you say go and shoot on sight, innocent people may be shot. Once the president has declared a war as it were on bandits and terrorists, and deploys armed forces, it implies that anybody caught with arms and ammunition would be shot, because they (referring to bandits) are killing innocent people, including raping women and killing children.

“What the law requires is that they should be disarmed, arrested, and prosecuted — if found guilty, they should be jailed. If the president wants to call for death penalty, a bill has to be signed.”