The Senate Public Accounts Committee questioned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday regarding the alarming issue of 178,459 missing firearms and allegations of N1.1 billion in contract splitting within the Nigeria Police Force.
During the session, Egbetokun apologized for not attending previous invitations, citing the demands of his office. To ensure accountability, he introduced Assistant Inspector General of Police Abdul Sulaiman as his official representative to the committee. Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) accepted the apology, emphasizing the importance of accountability in governance.
The 2019 Auditor General’s report, presented to the committee, revealed that a significant number of firearms, including 88,078 AK-47 rifles, were unaccounted for as of December 2018. The report raised serious concerns that these missing weapons could have fallen into the hands of criminals, exacerbating Nigeria’s security crisis.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) linked the increasing insecurity to the missing firearms, warning that the safety of both citizens and police officers is at risk. He stated, “These weapons were procured with taxpayers’ money, and Nigerians deserve to know what happened to them.”
In response to the report, AIG Sulaiman explained that some weapons were lost during robberies, while others were seized by criminals following attacks on police personnel. However, a review of police records indicated that out of 3,907 firearms officially listed as missing, only 15 cases involved officers who were injured or killed in the line of duty.
Under intense scrutiny, AIG Sulaiman requested additional time to provide a comprehensive report on the missing firearms, asserting, “To me, no firearm is unaccounted for.”
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s explanations, insisting that those responsible for the missing arms must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted. He stated, “These arms were procured to protect Nigerians, yet they have ended up in unknown hands. The police must account for them.”
In addition to the issue of missing firearms, the committee also addressed eight audit queries regarding irregularities in contract awards, including the alleged N1.1 billion contract splitting, which violates Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act. The police were directed to provide detailed explanations concerning these irregularities.
The Senate Committee has mandated the IGP to return before them on Monday, February 17, 2025, with a detailed report on both the missing firearms and the contract discrepancies.
