A massive security scandal has rocked the Nigerian Police Force as the Senate exposed the disappearance of 3,907 AK-47 rifles. Lawmakers rejected a plea for secrecy, demanding full accountability from the police. Are criminals in possession of these weapons? Read the full details.
The Nigerian Senate erupted in heated exchanges on Tuesday as lawmakers interrogated Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Suleiman Abdul over the disappearance of 3,907 assault rifles, including thousands of AK-47s, from police custody. The revelation, drawn from a damning 2019 audit report, has sparked national outrage and raised serious concerns over security breaches and alleged corruption within the police force.
The grilling, which took place at the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, saw AIG Abdul struggle to provide a credible explanation for the missing weapons, leaving lawmakers and Nigerians in shock. The session became even more dramatic when Abdul pleaded for a closed-door hearing, a request that was fiercely rejected by committee members who insisted on transparency.
Missing Firearms: A Security Threat?
According to the 2019 audit report read before the committee, an initial review had shown that 178,459 firearms, including 88,078 AK-47s, had been declared missing as of December 2018. However, a further detailed audit in January 2020 revealed that 3,907 assault rifles and pistols across various police formations in Nigeria remain unaccounted for.
The breakdown of missing firearms includes:
601 rifles from 15 Police Training Institutions
42 rifles from 23 Police formations
1,514 rifles from 37 State Commands
29 rifles from Zone 1 to 12 Commands
1,721 rifles from Police Mobile Force (PMF) units 1 to 68
Despite these startling figures, the Police leadership failed to provide a concrete response on how the firearms went missing or whether efforts had been made to recover them.
Senate Unmoved by Police’s Weak Defense
During the session, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who had previously ignored several invitations from the Senate, made an appearance to apologize before handing over the floor to AIG Suleiman Abdul, who oversees Police Public Accounts and Budget. However, Abdul and his team failed to offer any meaningful explanations, leading to an intense back-and-forth with the committee members.
Senator Peter Nwaebonyi, who presided over the session, alongside Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Joel Onawakpo-Thomas, bluntly rejected Abdul’s plea for a closed-door session.
“This is a public matter. In the United States, public accounts proceedings are televised live. Nigerians deserve to know how 3,907 deadly weapons disappeared from police custody,” Senator Nwaebonyi stated.
Backing him, Senator Adams Oshiomhole took a direct jab at the police’s approach to crime-fighting:
“The police are quick to arrest and parade people for stealing goats or chickens, but when it comes to assault rifles capable of causing mass destruction, they want a secret hearing? Nigerians need to know what happened.”
Only 15 Rifles Accounted For – AIG’s Shocking Admission
In a weak attempt at damage control, AIG Abdul claimed that only 15 out of the 3,907 missing rifles could be accounted for. He explained that 14 of those were lost by officers killed in action, while one rifle was reported missing as far back as 1998. This response infuriated lawmakers further, leading to a resolution that the police must return with a comprehensive and satisfactory response.
Senate Gives Deadline, Suspends Other Police Queries
To prevent the matter from being swept under the carpet, the Senate committee gave the police one week to provide detailed answers on the missing rifles. The remaining five audit queries raised against the police were suspended until their next appearance on Monday at 12 noon.
Public Outcry and Unanswered Questions
The revelation of missing firearms has ignited public outrage, with many questioning how such a large cache of assault rifles could disappear under the watch of the Nigerian Police. Concerns have also been raised over whether these weapons have fallen into the hands of criminals, bandits, or insurgents, further escalating insecurity in the country.
With the Senate demanding accountability and transparency, all eyes are now on the Nigerian Police Force to explain this massive security lapse. Will they provide answers, or will this scandal be buried like many others?
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