Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has urged the Senate to move future inquiries into the disappearance of 3,907 assault rifles behind closed doors, citing national security concerns. In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Egbetokun criticized the Auditor-General’s 2019 report, which alleged massive firearm losses from police armories, calling the findings inaccurate.
The letter, read following the 2025 budget passage, came after a tense public hearing where police representatives struggled to counter the audit’s claims. Egbetokun, who briefly attended the hearing before departing for official duties, argued that open discussions on security matters could foster public alarm and misinformation.
He pressed for private sessions, asserting they would facilitate frank dialogue and protect sensitive information from public misinterpretation. Senate President Akpabio acknowledged the IGP’s concerns, pledging thorough internal and external investigations.
Despite Egbetokun’s appeal, Senate Deputy Whip Onyechachi Nwoebonyi insisted the police return with a comprehensive account of the missing firearms next Monday, maintaining that transparency remains essential to public accountability.
