By Hassanat Adebowale
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed recent reports alleging that 3,907 arms are missing from its armories, calling the claims misleading and inaccurate. This clarification was made in a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi’s statement comes in response to media reports that followed queries from the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. The reports suggested that thousands of arms were unaccounted for within the police force.
According to Adejobi, the allegations appear to stem from an assessment of a 2019 report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF). He clarified that the report likely reflected records compiled before the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, took office.
“In the report, under Issue 3b, Sub (iii), it is stated that 3,907 arms were unaccounted for, not ‘missing’ as speculated by the news,” Adejobi explained. He emphasized the challenges faced by the police during periods of civil unrest, when officers are sometimes killed and their arms taken.
“It is also important to note that some attacks and looting of police facilities and armories have resulted in the loss of arms,” he added. However, Adejobi assured that every effort has been made to recover the arms, and many have been returned to the force’s holdings.
Adejobi also pointed out that auditors might not find all arms present during their visits to police armories because weapons are often issued to personnel for operational purposes, which can span months depending on the nature of the operations. This situation could lead to misconceptions regarding the accuracy of audit reports.
The FPRO highlighted that the police force conducts statutory and annual internal audits following Police Regulations, administrative instructions, and standard operating procedures (SOP). These audits include stringent measures to ensure the controlled movement and proper accountability of arms.
“Throughout our audits, there has been no outrageous record of unaccounted or missing arms, as speculated in the 2019 report of the AuGF, despite some incidents that have been documented and managed,” Adejobi stated. He added that the police have previously defended the audit queries, hoping to reconcile discrepancies in the reports.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has postponed the hearing session to Feb. 17 to allow for a thorough cross-analysis of the records.
The Nigeria Police Force is tasked with strictly controlling the distribution, storage, and usage of firearms. The Firearms Act and Police Act provide clear guidelines on how weapons should be issued, tracked, and audited within the force.
The Auditor-General of the Federation has the authority to audit government agencies, including the police, to ensure they comply with financial and asset management laws. When discrepancies are found, the Senate Public Accounts Committee can demand explanations and recommend further investigations or corrective measures.
While the police have pointed out operational challenges that might lead to discrepancies in audit reports, accountability is still critical. Maintaining a transparent and accurate arms inventory is essential for public trust and national security.
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