Nigerian security forces lost 282 rifles to armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
A report by SBM Intel Violence Tracker reveals that Nigerian security agencies lost 282 rifles to various armed groups in 94 separate incidents between 2021 and mid-2026. The Nigeria Police Force accounted for the majority of these losses, with 201 rifles stolen, representing 71.3 percent of the total. The military lost 45 rifles, while other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Customs Service, and vigilantes also reported losses. "Unknown gunmen" were identified as the primary perpetrators, responsible for 168 stolen rifles, followed by bandits with 58 rifles, and the Islamic State West Africa Province with 41. Geographically, Delta State recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia with 51. Despite these thefts, security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles during the same period, indicating that the issue of illegal weapons in Nigeria extends beyond those stolen from security personnel, and the pace of theft accelerated in 2026.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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