House of Representatives initiates investigation into ongoing loss of Police firearms

The House of Representatives has taken a crucial step in investigating the recurring issue of firearms loss among the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. On Thursday, the House passed a resolution mandating its committees to look into this matter and take appropriate actions.

The specific committees assigned to conduct this investigation are the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, and Public Accounts. Their mission is to delve into the continuous loss of firearms, examine the Nigeria Police Force’s failure to comply with the Financial Regulations Act, and ultimately propose suitable punitive measures.

This decision emerged after a motion was presented by Idris Salman, a representative from Kogi State. Mr. Salman emphasized the troubling rise in the rate of firearms loss, with many of these losses going unreported. According to him, the 2019 Auditor General’s report revealed that a staggering 178,459 firearms were unaccounted for from the police’s armoury.

In his presentation, Mr. Salman underscored that the Nigeria Police Force has lost a substantial number of firearms, equivalent to arming four full-size infantry divisions. This issue has not been properly reported, which contradicts paragraph 2603 of the Financial Regulations from 2009. The regulation stipulates that officers must report any store losses to their department or unit’s head within three days, especially if the loss occurs away from headquarters.

The House of Representatives swiftly adopted this motion without any debate, signaling their commitment to addressing this pressing concern.