The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged the Nigerian Senate to conduct a closed-door investigation into the alleged disappearance of 3,907 assault rifles.
He cited security concerns as the reason for the request.
The police chief also dismissed the 2019 audit report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, which claimed that thousands of rifles were missing or unaccounted for in the police armoury as of January 2020.
In a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, Egbetokun expressed appreciation for the Senate’s commitment to a thorough investigation.
The letter, read after the passage of the 2025 budget, came 48 hours after a public hearing in which police officials struggled to provide satisfactory responses to the Auditor-General’s report on missing firearms.
The IGP, who was present at the hearing, later excused himself due to pressing national duties.
However, he strongly objected to the public scrutiny of the police, arguing that such sensitive issues should not be discussed openly.
Egbetokun urged lawmakers to allow the police time to conduct internal investigations into the matter.
He also appealed to the Senate leadership to ensure that future hearings on national security issues are held privately to prevent misinterpretation and potential security risks.
“We appreciate the Senate committee’s probe into the alleged missing firearms and urge the committee to conduct future hearings on sensitive security issues in camera so that the wrong impression is not created in the minds of Nigerians and the international community,” the letter read.
“Conducting hearings on these sensitive security issues behind closed doors will help prevent misinformation, protect national security interests, and allow for more candid discussions and fact-finding.”
Akpabio acknowledged the IGP’s concerns, confirming that investigations would be conducted both internally by the police and externally by the Senate.
Meanwhile, Senate Deputy Whip, Onyechachi Nwoebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North), who presided over the Senate Public Accounts Committee hearing in the absence of Chairman Aliyu Wadada, urged the police chief to reappear on Monday, February 17, with a more detailed explanation about the missing rifles.
