Nigeria Police Denies Reports of 3,907 Missing Firearms, Calls Allegations Misleading
By DAYO ADESULU
Police Headquarters Refutes Claims of Missing Firearms
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed reports alleging that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries, describing such claims as misleading and inaccurate.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, clarified that the figures being cited originated from an audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) in 2019, long before the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Weapons Lost During Civil Unrest Have Been Accounted For
The police acknowledged that during periods of civil unrest, some officers were attacked and killed, leading to the carting away of weapons by criminals. However, Adejobi assured that significant efforts have been made to recover the lost arms, with many already retrieved and returned to the police armoury.
Audit Findings Misinterpreted – Police
The statement further explained that audit teams may not always find all weapons in the armouries at the time of inspection, as some arms are issued to personnel for ongoing operations, sometimes for extended periods.
“The Nigeria Police Force conducts internal audits annually as required by law to ensure proper accountability of arms,” Adejobi stated, adding that no “outrageous” number of firearms has been recorded as missing.
Senate Hearing on Missing Arms Postponed
The controversy surrounding the alleged missing arms was brought before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, but the hearing has now been rescheduled for February 17, 2025, to allow for a more thorough review of records.
Contrary to some reports, the IGP was not present during the session where senators raised questions about the issue. He had only made a brief appearance before being excused, while the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Police Accounts and Budget, stayed back to answer queries.
NPF Warns Against Misinformation
The police have condemned what they describe as “malicious and misleading reports”, urging the public to verify information before spreading misinformation that could damage public confidence in the police force.
“Managing misinformation against the Nigeria Police has been a challenge, but we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring public safety,” the statement concluded.
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