The Nigeria Police Force has expressed surprise and concern over recent reports alleging that 3,907 arms are missing from its custody. According to a press release, these allegations are “misleading and inaccurate”.
The Force explained that the report stems from a 2019 assessment by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which stated that 3,907 arms were “unaccounted for” and not “missing” as speculated by the news. The police acknowledged challenges during periods of civil unrest, including attacks on police facilities and officers, resulting in the loss of arms. However, efforts have been made to account for the arms, and many have been recovered.
“It is stated that 3,907 arms were unaccounted for and not ‘missing’ as speculated,” said ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer. “We have a statutory and annual internal auditing process to ensure controlled movement and proper accountability of arms”.
The police also clarified that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was not present during the Senate Committee on Public Accounts hearing when questions were raised about the missing firearms. The IGP appeared briefly before the committee on February 11, 2025, to address previous invitation snubs.
The Nigeria Police Force has faced criticism over the alleged missing arms, with some senators linking the issue to the country’s growing insecurity. However, the Force maintains that it has made significant strides in stabilizing the internal security space and remains committed to transparency and public trust.