Ayomide Awe
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has requested more time to investigate and provide a detailed report on the alarming disappearance of 178,459 firearms from various Nigeria Police Force commands and formations nationwide.
This plea came during a tense session before the Senate Public Accounts Committee, where IGP Egbetokun was represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Abdul Sulaiman, overseeing Police Accounts.
The committee, led by Acting Chairman Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, expressed grave concern over the missing firearms, predominantly AK-47 rifles, highlighted in the 2019 audit report by the Auditor General of the Federation.
According to the report presented by Samuel Godwin, a staggering 88,078 AK-47 rifles were among the firearms unaccounted for as of January 2020.
The auditor’s findings indicated discrepancies in the arms movement register and firearm records, revealing significant gaps in accountability.
During the session, Senator Nwebonyi stressed the implications of such lapses on national security, stating, “If these firearms are in the hands of criminals, it means neither we nor the police are safe.”
He demanded transparency, stressing that the public deserves to know how taxpayer-funded weapons went missing.
In response to queries from the committee, AIG Sulaiman attributed some losses to robbery incidents and casualties suffered by officers in the line of duty.
However, the committee found discrepancies in the police records, with only a fraction of missing firearms documented under such circumstances.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole criticized the police’s accountability, emphasizing the need for clear disciplinary actions against those responsible.
“There should not be two sets of laws in Nigeria,” he asserted, calling for immediate recovery efforts or prosecution of negligent officers.
Facing mounting pressure, AIG Sulaiman requested additional time to compile a comprehensive report.
“To me, no firearm is unaccounted for. We appeal to the committee for more time. We will submit a full report,” he assured.
Consequently, the committee ordered IGP Egbetokun to reappear on Monday, January 17, 2025, for further scrutiny.
The session concluded with the Inspector General apologizing for previous absences before the committee, vowing to prioritize future summons.
Senator Abdul Ningi accepted the apology on behalf of the committee, reaffirming the principle that all individuals, regardless of office, are subject to legislative oversight.
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