The 2018 audit revealed missing, 20 firearms from three police stations in Rivers State;
Three hundred and sixty-three rounds of ammunition were also unaccounted for by Rivers State Command;
Yet, the Force did not deem it necessary to conduct investigations into the missing weapons;
Worse, though, the action contravenes the Financial Regulation 2504 and 2505.
The Auditor General’s 2018 Report reveals high levels of unprofessionalism by the Rivers State Police Command officers. While the Command on several occasions alleged it lost its firepower to assailants, it failed to conduct follow-up investigations, seemingly burying the lead. And in one instance, the Police Chief was oblivious to stolen ammunition.
A breakdown of the audit starts with Central Police Station in Port Harcourt. Here, the report outlines missing, one Beretta Pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. Information from the stations showed that kidnappers snatched the weapon. Yet, the Command did not see fit to investigate the stolen weapons.
Even worse, the Police Chief at 19 Squadron in Port Harcourt was supposedly oblivious to 11 missing firearms and 260 rounds of ammunition. Such incidents are not only curious but raise eyebrows on possible illicit activity. Did the Command indeed receive the weapons, or was it diverted? As an icing on the suspicious cake, the Force omitted to present the Treasury Form 164 for audit.
The story remains unchanged for 18 Mobile Police 48 Ahoda, who failed to submit the Treasury Form, although missing eight firearms and 196 rounds of ammunition.
| Command Formation | No. of Arms and Round of Ammunition | Period | Remark |
| Central Police Station, Port Harcourt, Rivers State | One Beretta Pistol Serial No. A010132 and seven rounds of ammunition | 23-Aug-18 | Was claimed to be snatched by kidnappersNo police investigation report:Treasury Form 146 not presented in compliance with FR 2504 & 2505 |
| 19 Squadron, Port Harcourt, Rivers State | 11 Firearms and 260 rounds of ammunition | 12-Sep-17 | The command was unaware of the loss until it was identified through the auditTreasury Form 146 not presented in compliance with FR 2504 & 2505 |
| 18 Mobile Police 48 Ahoda, Rivers State | 8 Firearms and 196 rounds of ammunition | Between March 2016 and October 2017 | Arms and ammunition got missing from the armouryTreasury Form 146 not presented in compliance with FR 2504 & 2505 |
Financial Regulation
Meanwhile, the Financial Regulation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates guidelines of compliance with related issues. In Section 2504 (i,) on account of the loss of public item, the act specifies that the officer-in-charge:
- Makes an immediate report of the missing items to the unit Head;
- If fraud is suspected, it should be stated in the report;
- Initiate immediate action by completing Treasury Form 146, Part1 and forward same in quintuplet to Head of supervising department or unit;
- Ensure that if a weakness in the system of internal, control or insecurity is established, measures have been taken to prevent a re-occurrence of the loss;
- Ensure that the accounting entries as prescribed in Financial Regulation 2504 and 2505 have been made.
Despite a clearly stated procedure for reporting such cases, the Rivers State Police Command failed to follow the Financial Regulations. More alarming is the Command’s negligence in launching a full investigation into the whereabouts of the firearms and ammunition.
Consequences and Implications
The loss in firearms and ammunition comes with dire consequences and implications. As rightly stated by the Auditor General, there are high chances that such fire powers have fallen into criminals’ hands. It is thus no surprise the prevalence of reports detailing a rise in the state’s insecurity. On the other end of the spectrum is law enforcement’s handicapped crime-fighting prowess, owing to diminished firepower.
Whether an issue of negligence or foul play, missing firearms have dire implications and necessitate immediate investigation or follow-up, according to security expert Kemi Okeyondo. The Executive Director for Partners West Africa, Nigeria further queried Squadron 19’s Chief’s oblivion, given that such records and reporting should be routine.
“The issue of mission firearms and numerous ammunition is not something to be swept under the carpet. Ideally, the police armoury should keep a regularly updated record of its arms and ammunition in its possession.”
Kemi Okeyondo | Executive Director for Partners West Africa
Furthermore, this will put more pressure on public spending. Missing firearms and ammunition have to be replaced for effective policing. Thus, rather than the command budgeting for additional guns, the command will have to replace them, creating a shortage in firearms.
A more significant implication, however, is the recurring nature of missing firearms. Speaking with the Executive Director for Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative, Segun Elemo, he observed how previous audit reports decried missing firearms. But not only did these complaints go unanswered by Nigeria’s legislators in the National Assembly (NASS), the house is yet to review any audits beyond 2015.
“I can’t tell that anything at all was done especially because the National Assembly Public Accounts Committees are yet to review audit reports beyond 2015.”
Segun Elemo | Executive Director for Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative
Mr Elemo further expressed concern on the implications of this giving the evolving indigenous insecurity threats. “The question then is, where are these non-state actors getting weapons? Yes, the borders are porous as we all know it, but the truth is that there is laxity on the part of security agencies and agents.” Segun further alluded to possible connivance between law enforcement and non-state actors. In all, he condemned NASS’ Public Account Committee for failure to sanction guilty parties and charged the government to decisive action.
“The Federal Government needs to act decisively on audit issues such as these, especially since it exclusively manages the security architecture of the country.”
Segun Elemo | Executive Director for Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative