ABUJA, The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has addressed recent reports alleging the disappearance of 3,907 arms, labeling the claims as “misleading and inaccurate.”
In a press release issued by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer,Thursday, the Force expressed “surprise and deep concerns” regarding the news, suggesting it stemmed from a misinterpretation of a 2019 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF).
The NPF clarified that the AuGF report, specifically Issue 3b, Sub (iii), stated that 3,907 arms were “unaccounted for,” not “missing.” The Force emphasized that the report likely reflected records compiled before the current Inspector-General of Police’s tenure.
The statement acknowledged the challenges faced by the police, including losses of arms during civil unrest, attacks on police facilities, and officer casualties. The NPF asserted that efforts have been made to account for these losses, with many arms already recovered.
The Force also explained that the presence of arms in armories can fluctuate due to operational deployments, potentially leading to discrepancies during audits.
The statement claimed that these internal audits have not revealed any “outrageous record of unaccounted or missing arms” as speculated in the 2019 AuGF report, despite documented and managed incidents.
The NPF stated that it had previously addressed the audit queries and was awaiting a hearing with the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, now scheduled for February 17, 2025, to reconcile any discrepancies.
The press release also addressed reports of the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) appearance before the Senate Committee. It clarified that the IGP was present on February 11th, 2025, to address his absence from previous invitations and was subsequently excused.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Police Accounts and Budget, remained to answer queries related to a period predating the current IGP’s administration. The NPF reiterated that no such large number of firearms are missing from its armouries.
The NPF expressed concern about the spread of misinformation, particularly against institutions like the police, and its potential to compromise public safety and hinder law enforcement efforts.
Despite these challenges, the NPF affirmed its commitment to transparency and public trust, pledging to continue safeguarding the nation and accounting for all entrusted materials.
