The Senate Public Accounts Committee has raised concerns over 178,459 missing firearms and an alleged N1.1 billion contract fraud within the Nigeria Police Force, prompting a grilling session with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday.
Egbetokun, who had previously failed to honour invitations, apologised for his absence and introduced Assistant Inspector General of Police Abdul Sulaiman, in charge of Police Accounts, as his representative for future committee engagements.
The 2019 Auditor General’s report, presented by Samuel Godwin on behalf of Shaakaa Chira, revealed that a total of 178,459 firearms, mostly AK-47 rifles, were unaccounted for as of December 2018.
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Additionally, as of January 2020, at least 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols remained missing.
“If this number of firearms is in the hands of enemies, we are not safe. Even the police themselves are not safe. These weapons were procured with taxpayers’ money, and Nigerians deserve to know what happened to them,” Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) stated.
Representing the IGP, AIG Sulaiman claimed some weapons were lost during robbery incidents, while others were seized by criminals.
However, a review of police records showed that out of 3,907 missing firearms, only 15 cases involved officers who had died or been injured in the line of duty.
Expressing dissatisfaction, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) insisted that those responsible must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
“The least we expect is for you to tell us that the arms have been traced to officers who were responsible. They must be arrested and paraded—just as the police do to ordinary Nigerians. There should be no two sets of laws in this country.”
The Senate Committee has mandated the IGP to reappear before it on Monday, January 17, 2025, with a full report on both the missing firearms and the contract irregularities.
