The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has strongly refuted claims that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries’.
The Force Headquarters described the allegations as misleading and based on outdated records.
In a statement on Thursday, the police acknowledged past challenges, including attacks on armouries during civil unrest, leading to the loss of some weapons.
However, they confirmed that efforts have been made to recover and account for them.
The police clarified that the claim originated from a 2019 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
The report mentioned unaccounted firearms, not missing ones.
The Force explained that during audits, some weapons may not be in the armoury because they are in use by officers on duty.
Additionally, the police stated that internal audits are conducted regularly to track firearms, and no significant discrepancies have been recorded.
The Force assured the public of its commitment to transparency and accountability while urging media outlets to verify information before publication.
A Senate Committee on Public Accounts is set to review the issue further in a hearing scheduled for February 17, 2025.
