The Senate Public Accounts Committee has expressed deep concerns over multiple issues surrounding the Nigeria Police Force, including financial mismanagement and unaccounted-for firearms.
During a review of the Auditor-General’s report, lawmakers were informed of eight violations linked to the police, including irregular contracts worth ₦1.136 billion and the disappearance of over 3,900 firearms—among them AK-47 rifles feared to be in criminal hands.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (Budget), Abdul Suleiman, assured the committee that the police had responded to the audit queries appropriately. However, tensions flared when lawmakers clashed over how to proceed, with Senator Ningi demanding a private executive session before storming out of the meeting.
Despite this, the committee chair insisted the AIG must disclose the whereabouts of the missing weapons, stressing the national security risk. In response, the AIG urged discretion, arguing that police armaments should not be discussed publicly.
“The police will not allow these weapons to go missing at any cost, but this is a security matter best discussed privately,” he said.
However, most senators pushed for transparency. Senator Victor Umeh strongly criticised the police for failing to recover the missing weapons amid the nation’s worsening insecurity.
“Thousands of AK-47s are missing at a time when insecurity is at its peak. If over 3,900 rifles are unaccounted for, our security is compromised. Calling it a ‘security