House of Reps launches investigation into missing 178,459 arms belonging to police

MEMBERS of Nigeria's House of Representatives have launched an investigation into how 178,459 arms belonging to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have gone missing from government arsenals and armouries.

In 2019, a report by the auditor-general for the federation, showed that the arms and ammunition went missing from NPF stations and stores. Among the highlights of the report was that 88,000 AK-47 assault rifles had gone missing from the NPF and the police which could not account for them.

Debating the matter yesterday members of the House of Representatives voted to adopt a motion of urgent public importance moved by the deputy minority leader Hon Toby Okechukwu. Moving the motion, Hon Okechukwu drew attention to the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry, pointing out that these arms could have found their way into the wrong hands.

Deputy speaker Hon Idris Wase, said, however, that the adhoc committee already set up by the House should be allowed to carry out the criminal aspect of the investigation. He added that the House Committee on Public Accounts should then be allowed to investigate the whereabouts of the arms in accordance with its constitutional mandate.

Hon Wase, who said there were lots of information that he is keeping to himself, said the issue of missing arms may not be limited to the police alone. Last year, it was reported that there are about 6m illegal firearms in Nigeria.