Police Dismiss Claims of 3,907 Missing Firearms
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Thursday, dismissed reports alleging that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries, describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had written to the Senate regarding the alleged missing AK-47 rifles cited in the 2019 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF), requesting a closed-door investigation.
The Force Headquarters clarified that the figures referenced in recent reports were from an audit conducted before Egbetokun’s tenure.
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In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi said, “The report was a misrepresentation and that many of the weapons in question had been issued to officers for duties and later recovered.”
The police further emphasised that the AuGF report was misunderstood. “These allegations are inaccurate and misleading. The AuGF report does not state that 3,907 firearms were missing, but rather that they were unaccounted for at the time of the audit. This means auditors could not physically verify all arms, as some were deployed for operations,” the statement read.
The Force also noted that law enforcement agencies often encounter logistical challenges, particularly during civil unrest, when officers have been attacked, and arms have been looted.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
