The spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports suggesting that over 3,000 firearms are missing from its inventory.
Clarifying the matter, the police stated that a 2019 audit report from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) described the arms as “unaccounted for” rather than “missing,” countering media speculation.
Although the audit was conducted before the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the police deemed it necessary to address the issue.
Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, expressed concern over recent reports claiming that 3,907 firearms were missing, calling the allegations misleading and inaccurate. He emphasized that these figures were based on an old audit and did not reflect the current status of the force’s inventory.
Adejobi explained that during civil unrest, police officers were attacked, leading to stolen weapons. Additionally, police facilities and armories were looted. However, efforts have been made to recover lost arms, and many have been returned to the force’s inventory.
He further noted that auditors may not always find all weapons in armories at the time of inspection, as many are issued to officers for ongoing operations. This, he said, could create misunderstandings in audit reports.
The Nigeria Police Force conducts regular internal audits following police regulations and administrative procedures. According to Adejobi, there has been no record of a large-scale loss of arms, as speculated in the 2019 AuGF report.
The police had previously addressed the audit queries and were set to clarify discrepancies before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. However, the hearing has been postponed to February 17, 2025, allowing more time for proper record analysis.
Contrary to media reports, the IGP was not present when senators raised concerns about the alleged missing firearms. He had briefly appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on February 11, 2025, to address concerns over prior invitations. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Police Accounts and Budget remained to handle the committee’s queries, which related to a period before the current IGP’s tenure.
The police condemned the spread of misinformation, stating that such false narratives undermine public confidence and security efforts. While the force continues to stabilize internal security, misleading reports attempt to discredit these efforts.
The NPF reassured Nigerians of its commitment to accountability and transparency, stressing that it remains dedicated to securing the nation while ensuring proper oversight of all operational materials.
It is worth recalling that during the #EndSARS protests, several police stations were attacked and looted by hoodlums and angry demonstrators, leading to the loss of arms and ammunition. However, ongoing recovery efforts have ensured that many of these weapons are back in police custody.
