THE Senate Public Accounts Committee has expressed deep concerns over missing firearms and financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force.
The lawmakers, during a review of the Auditor-General’s report, were informed that over 3,900 firearms, including AK-47 rifles, remain unaccounted for, raising fears that these weapons may have fallen into the hands of criminals.
The report also flagged contract irregularities amounting to ₦1.136 billion, further compounding concerns about accountability within the police force.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (Budget), Abdul Suleiman, assured lawmakers that the police had responded appropriately to the audit queries.
However, the session became tense when some senators disagreed on how to proceed.
Senator Ningi called for an executive session to discuss the matter privately but later stormed out after his suggestion was rejected.
Despite calls for a closed-door discussion, the committee chairman insisted that the AIG disclose the whereabouts of the missing firearms, emphasizing that the issue was of national importance.
The AIG, however, pleaded for discretion, arguing that discussions about police firepower should not be made public.
He assured lawmakers that the police would not allow weapons to remain missing, stating that the matter was best addressed privately.
Senators Victor Umeh and Joel Onawakpo-Thomas strongly opposed attempts to hold a private session, demanding public accountability.
Umeh criticized the police for their failure to recover the missing firearms, especially amid rising insecurity in the country.
He argued that the inability to trace thousands of missing AK-47 rifles posed a serious threat to national security.
Following a voice vote, the majority of lawmakers rejected the call for a closed session, opting to continue discussions publicly.
The police explained that some of the missing weapons were taken from officers killed in action, insisting that no arms were unaccounted for.
Unconvinced by the response, the Committee on Public Accounts declared dissatisfaction with the explanation and summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to appear before the committee on Monday to provide further clarification.