A report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) has shown that 178,459 firearms and ammunition belong to the police are missing or unaccounted for.
The audit reviewed arms movement register, monthly returns of arms and ammunition and ammunition register at the armoury section.
Of this number, 88,078 AK-47 rifles. 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols across different police formations could not be accounted for as of January 2020.
A breakdown of the missing firearms showed that 601 firearms are missing from 15 training institutions; 42 in 23 formations; 1514 missing in 37 police commands; 29 missing in zone 1-12 were not also reported as required by law, with 1,721 firearms are missing in Police Mobile Force (PMF).
Records obtained from force armament unit at the Force Headquarters showed 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron, Abuja, did not report a single case of missing firearm, whereas the schedule of missing arms obtained from the same PMF showed a total number of 46 missing arms between year 2000 and February 2019.
“The value of the lost firearms could not be ascertained because no document relating to their cost of acquisition was presented for examination,” the audit report said.
According to the report, 10 contracts totaling N1.136 billion were awarded to a single proprietor in the name of different companies.