“3,907 Arms Not Missing, Only Unaccounted For” – Nigeria Police

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed recent media reports claiming that 3,907 of its firearms are missing, calling them misleading and inaccurate.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement on Thursday clarifying the situation. He explained that the claim appears to be based on a report from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) dating back to 2019. According to the report, the firearms were “unaccounted for” rather than missing, contrary to the interpretation presented in some news reports.

Adejobi acknowledged that during periods of civil unrest, some police officers were killed, and their weapons taken. Additionally, police facilities and armories were attacked and looted. However, he emphasized that efforts had been made to recover lost weapons, with many already returned to the force’s armories.

He further explained that auditors visiting police armories may not always find all firearms present at the time of inspection. This is because weapons are often issued to personnel for ongoing operations, some of which last for extended periods. Such circumstances, he said, could lead to misunderstandings regarding audit reports.

The Nigeria Police Force, according to Adejobi, conducts annual internal audits in compliance with police regulations, administrative instructions, and standard operating procedures. These audits ensure strict control over firearm movement and accountability. He stressed that there has been no record of an “outrageous” number of missing firearms, as alleged in the 2019 audit report.

The police had previously responded to audit queries to reconcile discrepancies in the report. However, a hearing on the matter, led by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, has been postponed to February 17, 2025, to allow for a more thorough analysis of records.

Adejobi also refuted claims that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was present when senators raised concerns about the alleged missing firearms. He clarified that the IGP briefly appeared before the committee on February 11, 2025, to address why he had not attended previous hearings. After providing a satisfactory response, he was excused, while the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Accounts and Budget remained to answer questions related to the audit, which covered a period before the current IGP’s tenure.

He criticized the spread of misinformation against the Nigeria Police Force, warning that such reports undermine public confidence in law enforcement. The police, he said, remain committed to transparency and accountability while ensuring national security.