The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has come out to debunk claims that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armories. In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the reports as misleading and inaccurate.
According to the NPF, the figures cited in recent reports originated from a 2019 audit assessment conducted before the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. The audit report had noted that some firearms were unaccounted for, but this did not necessarily mean they were missing.
The NPF explained that many of the weapons in question had been issued to officers for operational duties and later recovered. The Force emphasized that the report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) was misunderstood.
The AuGF report, according to the NPF, did not state that 3,907 firearms were missing, but rather that they were unaccounted for at the time of the audit. This means that auditors could not physically verify all arms, as some were deployed for operations.
The NPF pointed out that law enforcement agencies often face logistical challenges, especially during civil unrest when officers have been attacked and arms looted. However, significant efforts have been made to recover such weapons.
The Force also addressed concerns raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, confirming that the hearing on the matter had been rescheduled. The NPF had previously defended the audit queries, which aimed to reconcile discrepancies in the report.
The police expressed concern over what they described as a growing trend of misinformation aimed at discrediting law enforcement agencies. The NPF emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability.
