LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- A new security report has revealed that the Nigeria Police Force lost 201 rifles to terrorists, bandits and other armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, highlighting growing concerns over the theft of weapons from security agencies across the country.
The report, released by SBM Intel’s Violence Tracker and titled “Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes,” disclosed that a total of 282 rifles were taken from security personnel in 94 separate incidents nationwide during the review period.
According to the findings, the police lost 201 rifles, representing 71.3 percent of all stolen weapons.
The military recorded the second-highest loss with 45 rifles, accounting for 16 percent, while unspecified security agencies lost 15 rifles or 5.3 percent.
Furthermore, other security organizations, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Customs Service, collectively lost 12 rifles, while vigilante groups recorded the loss of nine rifles.
The report also identified the groups responsible for most of the thefts.
Unknown gunmen topped the list with 168 stolen rifles, representing 59.6 percent of the total while bandits were linked to 58 stolen rifles, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) accounted for 41.
In addition, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was connected to the theft of nine rifles, kidnappers were blamed for four, while Boko Haram was linked to two stolen weapons.
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Geographically, Delta State recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia with 51.
Borno State ranked third with 40 stolen rifles, while Zamfara recorded 20 and Katsina suffered only 11 losses.
Notably, Delta and Abia alone accounted for 42 percent of all reported rifle thefts during the period under review.
The report further observed that the rate of rifle theft increased significantly in 2026, suggesting that attacks targeting security personnel have become more frequent.
Despite the losses, SBM Intel noted that security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles within the same period.
The organization stated that the disparity between recovered weapons and those stolen from security personnel indicates that the country’s illegal arms problem extends well beyond service rifles taken during attacks.
“Between 2021 and mid-2026, armed groups stole 282 rifles from Nigerian security forces across 94 incidents. Police lost 71% of these. Delta and Abia accounted for 42% of thefts, with the pace accelerating in 2026. Yet the recoveries (1,442) dwarf thefts; this is a sign that Nigeria’s illegal weapons problem goes far beyond stolen service rifles,” the report stated.
Ultimately, the findings are expected to intensify calls for stronger protection of security personnel, improved armoury management, and measures to curb the circulation of illegal firearms across Nigeria.
