The question of whether to prioritize de-escalation is complex because it balances the fundamental human right to life against the immediate safety of both the public and law enforcement officers. In many jurisdictions, the consensus is shifting toward a model where lethal force is strictly a last resort, but applying this to high-stakes situations involving known dangerous fugitives presents significant tactical risks. For a country like Nigeria, adopting stricter non-lethal standards would require not just a shift in policy, but a massive investment in specialized training, less-lethal equipment, and robust oversight to ensure those standards are actually enforceable on the ground. Ultimately, it is not necessarily a choice between officer safety and fugitive rights, but rather a need for better tactical options that allow police to neutralize threats without automatically resorting to lethal measures. Balancing these priorities is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring that justice is served through the legal process rather than through summary execution.