A Nigerian police officer attached to the MOPOL 39 Base in Osogbo, Osun State, has reportedly lost his service pistol at a beer parlour near the base, sparking serious concerns over the handling of firearms within the Nigeria Police Force, SaharaReporters has exclusively learned.
The incident, confirmed by a senior police officer at the base, has thrown the unit into a frantic search operation, exposing glaring lapses in accountability and discipline within the force.
According to sources, the officer identified as Inspector Monday had checked out the pistol from the base’s armoury late last year. However, there is no official record of its return, deepening suspicions about the fate of the missing firearm.
“He claimed to have returned it to one of the armourers, Inspector Osas, but there is no documentation of the return in the arms registry. Till now, they have been unable to trace the weapon, and all efforts to locate it have proved abortive,” the source told SaharaReporters.
Further revelations paint a troubling picture. The pistol was reportedly lost at a beer parlour adjacent to the MOPOL 39 Base, a location where officers frequently consume alcohol—even during working hours.
“They lost the pistol in a beer parlour right beside their base. That’s where they go to drink, even during working hours,” the source disclosed, raising further questions about the conduct and discipline of armed police officers.
This incident comes at a time when Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun faces scrutiny over the growing number of missing police firearms. A leaked police memo previously obtained by SaharaReporters highlighted multiple cases of lost weapons, including some seized by bandits in deadly ambushes.
One such memo, dated September 12, 2024, detailed how armed bandits ambushed a security convoy along the Tazame-Yandoto Highway in Zamfara State, killing five police officers and three soldiers while seizing four rifles, including AK-47s.
Despite the mounting concerns over missing arms, the Osun State Police Command has remained silent. When SaharaReporters reached out for a response, the spokesperson Yemisi Opalola was unreachable, and messages sent to her phone went unanswered.
As public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force continues to erode, this latest scandal underscores the urgent need for greater accountability, discipline, and reform within the force.
Questions That Demand Answers:
How did a service pistol go missing under such questionable circumstances?
Why is there no proper documentation for firearms returned to the armoury?
What measures are in place to prevent such incidents from recurring?
Until the Nigeria Police Force addresses these glaring issues, cases of missing weapons will remain a ticking time bomb, posing a grave security threat to the nation.
PIONEER NEWS 