By Ngwuta Chinedu, Abakaliki
The Senate Deputy Chief Whip and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial district Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has charged the Inspector General of Police-Kayode Egbetokun to immediately account for the over 4000 missing rifles under his watch.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Special Assistant, media and publicity Romanus Uzor to the Senate Deputy Chief whip, who is also the Vice Chairman Senateās Standing Committee on Public Accounts gave the charge at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja Wednesday during the quizzing of the IGP over a query from the Auditor General of the Federation.
Egbetokun who was represented by the AIG in charge of Police budget and account, Abudul Suleiman was mandated to inform the IGP to appear before it on Monday for more explanation on the missing firearms.
Nwebonyi revealed that 4000 police rifles were missing as contained in the 2019 Annual Audited Report of the Nigeria Police force.
while commiserating with the families of 15 police officers who lost their lives and rifles in the course of their duties, he prayed to God to accept their souls and insisted that the remaining over 3985 missing firearms must be accounted for.
In his remarks the Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district, Senator Adams Oshiomole queried the Police Boss over the missing firearms without prosecuting officers involved who may have sold or lost it out of sheer negligence, but quick to parade those who steal rats and rabbits.
He expressed fear that the missing rifles may be used by criminals to compound the security situation the country is currently facing as a people, He insisted that the missing firearms must be accounted for in order to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.
Responding, the AIG in charge of the Police Budget and Accounts who represented the IGP -Abdul Suleiman explained that police officers usually stake their lives in order to safeguard their firearms adding that investigations are ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the missing firearms.