Following the National Assembly’s probe of missing firearms, the police high command has admitted that its officers have lost firearms, saying the development has been traced to the personnel’s negligence and poor knowledge of weapon handling.
The police management lamented that the loss of firearms has continued unabated due to the “insensitive deployment” of policemen by the senior officers.
LEADERSHIP investigations showed that the management of the Nigeria Police Force, in a wireless message emanating from “TERROFOR ABUJA” and obtained by our correspondent, with reference number CQ: 2400/DOPS/CTU/FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 10/90, and sent to Lagos, Port Harcourt, FCT, Aba, Warri, and Damaturu, warned that the senior police officers would be dealt with if such an incident happened again.
It was also sent to Owerri, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Enugu, Jos, Minna, Kano, Yola, Ibadan, Makurdi, Lokoja, Gusau, Gombe, Lafia, Ilorin, Yenagoa, Uyo, FHQ, Okija, Kaduna, and Uburu.
The message also directed senior police officers to render monthly returns of arms and ammunition on or before the 23rd of every month.
This admittance is coming amidst a probe initiated by the Nigerian Senate over the report released by the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) on the missing 3,907 assault rifles.
Last month, the Senate grilled the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the assistant inspector-general of police in charge of Public Accounts and Budget, Suleiman Abdul,over the missing rifles.
The Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a swift reaction, had clarified that the hoodlums carted away the rifles and that the number given by the AuGF was outrageous.
Part of the wireless message read, “CQ: 2400/DOPS/CTU/FHQ/AB/VOL. 10/90 X Arms and Ammunition X it has been observed with dismay X the disturbing incidents of avoidable loss of firearms to hoodlums X This has been found traceable to negligence on the part of the men X poor knowledge of weapon handling X insensitive deployment of men by senior officers X as such policemen who should be protecting the citizenry X are themselves vulnerable X have become targets of frequent attacks X as they often lack the courage X to counter any sudden attack X consequently X TERRORFOR directs you emplace urgent measures to stem the ugly tide X you are to immediately design X embark on aggressive training on musketry X firearm handling X as any loss of firearms will not be tolerated X supervising officers will be held responsible X you are further directed to carry-out audit on arms and ammunition yours and furnish mine with comprehensive report X you are also directed to be rendering monthly returns of arms and ammunition on or before 23rd of every month X treat as very important pleasexxxx.
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