Posted by The Nigeria Police Force has been losing firearms at an alarming rate, and the House of Representatives has ordered its committees to look into the matter.
On Thursday, the House ordered the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, and Public Accounts to look into the ongoing issue of firearms being stolen and lost, as well as the department’s inability to adhere to the Financial Regulations Act, and to make recommendations for disciplinary action.
Legislator Idris Salman of Kogi State initiated the motion that led to this compromise.
Mr. Salman claimed in his motion that the rate of firearm loss has increased and that the vast majority of such losses have been unreported.
He said that 178,459 weapons were reported missing in the 2019 Auditor General’s Report.
“Nigeria Police have lost sufficient firearms to arm four full-size infantry divisions that were not reported, thus violating paragraph 2603 of the Financial Regulations, 2009,” he said. “This is because officers are required to report store losses to the head of department or unit within three days if the loss occurs away from headquarters.”
The motion was presented and passed immediately afterwards.