National Outrage as Senate Grills Police Over Missing 3,907 AK-47 Rifles | READ FULL
Afnews Editor
Feb 12, 2025
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.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
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.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
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.
READ ALSO: Why Peter Obi, El-Rufai Are Yet to Join ADC - Bolaji Abdullahi Reveals
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:
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
601 rifles from 15 Police Training Institutions
42 rifles from 23 Police formations
READ ALSO: CCT: ONNOGHEN, AGAIN FAILS TO APPEAR AS TRIBUNAL BEGINS PROCEEDINGS
1,514 rifles from 37 State Commands
READ ALSO: Devastating [Abia]: Igbanja Community In Akwa Ibom Attacks Arochukwu, Beheads Man
29 rifles from Zone 1 to 12 Commands
READ ALSO: Jordan Pickford signs new Everton contract until 2029, England international 'over the moon'
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.
READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE[Abia LGA Election Result]: Watch As Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa Reads Out The Results |VIDEO
Senate Unmoved by Police's Weak Defense
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
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.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
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.
READ ALSO: Why Peter Obi, El-Rufai Are Yet to Join ADC - Bolaji Abdullahi Reveals
"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,ÔÇØ 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.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
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.
READ ALSO: CCT: ONNOGHEN, AGAIN FAILS TO APPEAR AS TRIBUNAL BEGINS PROCEEDINGS
Senate Gives Deadline, Suspends Other Police Queries
READ ALSO: Devastating [Abia]: Igbanja Community In Akwa Ibom Attacks Arochukwu, Beheads Man
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.
READ ALSO: Jordan Pickford signs new Everton contract until 2029, England international 'over the moon'
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.
READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE[Abia LGA Election Result]: Watch As Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa Reads Out The Results |VIDEO
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?
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
https://youtube.com/live/jU9N-OgOCGo
Related Stories
REVEALED: How All Progressives Congress (APC) Played Into The Opposition Hands Ahead Of 2027 - Sumner Sambo Warns
I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Tinubu Breaks Silence on Hardship, Inflation, Power Crisis - Vows Nigeria Will Overcome Economic Storm
"Terrorists Have Outgunned Our TroopsÔÇØ - Ndume Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram War, Sends Urgent Message To Tinubu
""
— Afnews Editor