Police Refutes Allegations of 3,907 Missing Arms
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has strongly refuted reports alleging that 3,907 arms are missing from its armories, calling the claims misleading and inaccurate.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police clarified that the report stems from a 2019 audit by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF).
The report did not state that the weapons were “missing” but rather “unaccounted for” due to operational deployments and security challenges faced by the Force at the time.
The police noted that during periods of civil unrest, officers were attacked, and some arms were taken by criminals.
However, efforts have been made to recover these weapons, with many already accounted for.
It said also, the routine issuance of firearms to personnel for long-term operations often leads to discrepancies in audit reports, which the Force is actively addressing.
The statement also dismissed claims that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was questioned over the matter during a Senate hearing, clarifying that he only made a brief appearance before the committee and was not involved in the discussions on the alleged missing firearms.
The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, stressing that misinformation about the Force could undermine public confidence and national security efforts.
The Senate hearing on the matter has been postponed to February 17, 2025, allowing for a thorough review of the records.
