The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was grilled by the Senate Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday over the disappearance of 178,459 firearms and alleged N1.1 billion contract splitting within the Nigeria Police Force.
Egbetokun apologized for missing previous invitations, citing official duties, and introduced AIG Abdul Sulaiman as his representative before the committee.
A 2019 Auditor General’s report showed that by December 2018, a total of 178,459 firearms, including 88,078 AK-47 rifles, were missing. By January 2020, an additional 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols were reported missing.
Senators have expressed alarm over potential security threats, with Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi warning that the large number of missing firearms could be contributing to Nigeria’s insecurity.
In response, AIG Sulaiman explained that some firearms were lost during robberies and attacks on officers, and a review found that only 15 cases involved officers being injured or killed while losing their weapons.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) rejected the response, demanding that those responsible for the missing firearms be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
The committee also investigated the N1.1bn contract splitting, which was flagged in the Auditor General’s report and violates Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act.
The Senate Committee has summoned the IGP to reappear on Monday, January 17, 2025, with a detailed report on both the missing firearms and the alleged contract irregularities.
