178,459 Missing Police Firearms: Years After the Alarm, Where Are the Answers? -By Yasir Shehu Adam

Years after the Auditor-General of the Federation raised serious concerns over 178,459 firearms recorded as lost from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerians are still entitled to a clear explanation of what happened. At a time when insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and killings continue to threaten innocent citizens, the issue of weapons that cannot be properly accounted for should worry every Nigerian. These firearms were meant to protect lives and property, not to become another source of concern. The question remains: what has the government done to address the findings, and when will Nigerians receive a convincing explanation?

According to the 2019 Annual Audit Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, police records showed that 178,459 firearms had been recorded as lost as of December 2018, including 88,078 AK-47 rifles. The report also raised concerns about 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols that could not be accounted for as of January 2020. These were not allegations created on social media but findings contained in an official government audit. The report identified weaknesses in the management and documentation of police weapons, raising serious questions about accountability within an institution responsible for maintaining law and order.

In February 2025, the Senate Public Accounts Committee questioned the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force over the findings. During the hearing, police representatives explained that some weapons had been lost during attacks on officers and police facilities. However, lawmakers were dissatisfied with the explanations and demanded further clarification. Senator Adams Oshiomhole called for those responsible for any proven losses to be held accountable. The police subsequently disputed the audit figures, describing the allegations as inaccurate and misleading. While the police have the right to defend their records, Nigerians also have the right to know the truth. An official audit finding and a police denial cannot be the end of such a serious national security matter.

In May 2026, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu directed Commissioners of Police across the country to conduct a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their commands. The directive was intended to strengthen accountability, improve documentation and ensure proper management of police weapons. This was an important step, but Nigerians deserve to know what the exercise has achieved. Have the findings been submitted to Force Headquarters? How many firearms have been properly accounted for? Were any discrepancies discovered, and what measures have been taken to address them? More importantly, has the new exercise helped to clarify the earlier findings of the Auditor-General?

The seriousness of this matter becomes clearer when we consider the security challenges facing Nigeria. Across different parts of the country, innocent citizens continue to suffer from attacks, kidnapping and other violent crimes. Farmers are afraid to visit their farmlands, travellers fear using certain roads, and families struggle with the consequences of insecurity. Although there is no established evidence that the firearms mentioned in the audit are being used by bandits or terrorists, the possibility of government weapons falling into criminal hands must never be treated lightly. Every firearm that is lost through negligence, theft or poor supervision creates a potential danger to society.

The National Assembly must also demonstrate that its responsibility does not end with inviting security officials to public hearings. Nigerians deserve to know the outcome of the investigations conducted into the missing firearms controversy. Were the explanations provided by the police properly examined? Were the differences in the official records resolved? Did the committees make recommendations, and have those recommendations been implemented? Public hearings should produce meaningful results, not simply attract public attention before the issues are forgotten. Accountability requires clear findings, proper documentation and action where wrongdoing is established.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration must recognise that the fight against insecurity cannot succeed through the purchase of weapons and deployment of security personnel alone. There must also be transparency in the management of public resources and equipment. The Federal Government should ensure that the police leadership provides a clear and verifiable account of the audit findings and the steps taken to improve firearms management. Where investigations establish negligence, theft or criminal conduct, those responsible must face appropriate consequences, regardless of their ranks or positions. No public institution should be above accountability, especially one entrusted with protecting the lives of Nigerians.

Nigeria belongs to all its citizens, not to any political party, government or individual. The farmer deserves protection, the trader deserves peace, the student deserves a safe learning environment, and every family deserves to sleep without fear. Nigerians are not asking for too much; they are asking for a security system they can trust. The police deserve support in carrying out their difficult responsibilities, but that support must go together with transparency and accountability. The controversy surrounding the 178,459 firearms must not be allowed to disappear from public discussion without a clear resolution. Let the records speak, let the investigations produce answers, and let those entrusted with protecting Nigerians demonstrate that public safety remains their highest responsibility.

Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman)
Journalist and Writer, Bauchi State