Police Deny Shocking Claims Of 3,907 Missing Firearms, Slam Allegations As False

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed reports alleging that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armories, labeling the claims as misleading and inaccurate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement on Thursday, the Force Headquarters clarified that the figures cited in recent reports originated from a 2019 audit assessment, conducted before the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

According to Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the reported number of missing firearms is a misrepresentation. Many of the weapons in question had been issued to officers for operational duties and later recovered.

Audit Report Misinterpreted

The police emphasized that the report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) 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 pointed out that law enforcement agencies often face logistical challenges, especially during civil unrest, when officers have been attacked and arms looted. However, significant efforts have been made to recover such weapons.

Senate Committee Hearing Postponed

Addressing concerns raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, the police confirmed that the hearing on the matter had been rescheduled.

“The Nigeria Police Force had previously defended the audit queries, which aimed to reconcile discrepancies in the report. However, the hearing has now been postponed to Monday, February 17, 2025, for further analysis,” the statement added.

Regarding the Inspector-General of Police’s presence at the hearing, the NPF explained that IGP Kayode Egbetokun briefly appeared before the committee to clarify his prior absence before being excused. Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Police Accounts and Budget remained behind to address the committee’s inquiries.

Combating Misinformation and Public Distrust

The NPF expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of misinformation aimed at discrediting law enforcement agencies.

“The Nigeria Police Force has made significant progress in maintaining internal security, but certain malicious actors are attempting to undermine public confidence by spreading false information,” the statement concluded.