Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has written to the Senate, requesting that subsequent investigations into the alleged disappearance of 3,907 assault rifles be conducted behind closed doors for security reasons.
The IGP also dismissed the 2019 Audited Report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, which claimed that thousands of rifles were missing or unaccounted for in the police armory as of January 2020, describing it as inaccurate.
In his letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Egbetokun expressed appreciation for the Senate’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation.
The letter, which was read after the passage of the 2025 budget, came 48 hours after a tough public hearing where police officials struggled to provide satisfactory responses to the Auditor-General’s damning report on missing firearms.
The IGP, who was present at the public hearing on Tuesday, later excused himself for pressing national duties. However, he strongly objected to how the police were scrutinized in a public setting, stating that such sensitive issues should not be discussed openly.
The IGP urged the Senate to allow the police time to conduct internal investigations into the matter. He also appealed to the Senate leadership to ensure future hearings on national security issues are held privately to avoid 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.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the IGP’s concerns, confirming that investigations will 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, has summoned the police to reappear next Monday with a more detailed explanation about the missing rifles.
However, after the IGP’s letter was read, Nwoebonyi’s attempts to justify the public nature of the initial hearing were largely ignored by the Senate.
