Recently, the Senate Public Accounts Committee announced that 3,907 firearms, predominantly AK-47 rifles, are missing from police formations across Nigeria. This revelation if proven to be true is an embarrassing phase for the Nigeria Police Force which ought to be in good stead to maintain its integrity.
The discovery which came from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report underlines a general laxity in the management of arms meant to protect citizens. Besides, there was an earlier report that a staggering 178,459 firearms remain unaccounted for as of 2018, with 88,078 of these being AK-47 rifles. These are frightening statistics as they represent a severe threat to national security.
It is of necessity to remind law enforcement agencies that their responsibility is to safeguard lives and property. However, the disappearance of such a huge number of firearms raises serious questions about the force’s internal controls, oversight mechanisms, and commitment to transparency.
Worrisome is the fact that these missing firearms may have found their way in the hands of criminals, terrorists and other non-state actors, exacerbating the already precarious security situation in the country.
Appearing before a Senate committee, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun attributed the missing weapons to incidents such as robberies and attacks on police officers. While these explanations may account for a fraction of the losses, they fall woefully short of justifying the scale of the problem. The admission by Assistant Inspector-General of Police , Abdul Sulaiman that only 15 cases of missing firearms involved officers who died or were injured in the line of duty further weakens the police’s position. It suggests that the majority of these weapons were lost under suspicious or negligent circumstances, raising the specter of corruption, complicity, or outright incompetence within the force.
Nigeria is already contending with streaks of violence, including banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across the country. To allow these number of weapons enter the public space further heightens the concern on our state of insecurity.
We back the insistence of the Senate that officers found culpable in the various losses of firearms should be put to the test of law as it negates what they vowed to defend. Transparency is necessary to uncover the truth and hold accountable those who have sold out. There is need for collaborative efforts by the various security agencies to retrieve these weapons.
Nigeria is already grappling with widespread violence, including banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. The possibility that these criminals are armed with weapons procured with taxpayers’ money is a bitter pill to swallow. It is unacceptable that while citizens endure the brunt of insecurity, the police are unable to account for the very tools meant to protect them. The Senate’s insistence on identifying, arresting and prosecuting officers responsible for the missing firearms is a step in the right direction.
However, this must not be a mere exercise in futility. A thorough and transparent investigation is imperative to uncover the truth and hold accountable those who have compromised national security.
The police must also collaborate with other security agencies to retrieve these weapons from criminals and prevent further leakages.
Furthermore, demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability at all times. The NPF cannot afford to wave aside this issue or threat it as a routine administrative lapse. The Auditor-General’s report is a clarion call for reform. It is an opportunity for the police to introspect, overhaul its systems, and restore public trust. The force must embrace modern inventory management technologies, strengthen internal oversight, and foster a culture of accountability at all levels. In a country where insecurity is deepening, the police cannot afford to be part of the problem.
The force have a slogan that the “Police is your Friend” but that proclamation should not extend to common criminals.
