Authorities at the Nigerian Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) 39 Base in Osogbo, Osun State, have recovered a pistol that was mysteriously lost by an officer at a beer parlour near the base—a scandal that has rocked the police unit following an investigative exposé by SaharaReporters.
For months, security operatives had been searching for the missing firearm, a case that has now unraveled deeper issues of misconduct and accountability within the police force. According to an insider, the disappearance of the pistol was not an isolated incident but rather part of a troubling pattern of negligence and corruption within the system.
Sources reveal that the pistol was originally booked out from the base’s armoury late last year by an officer identified as Inspector Monday Alak. However, there was no official record of its return, sparking concerns about its whereabouts.
In a dramatic twist, fresh reports indicate that Inspectors Osakpolor Edegbe and Monday Alak—both implicated in the disappearance of the pistol—were arrested on the orders of their Commander, ACP Adekunle Ige. Yet, in a move that raises eyebrows, Ige, who is currently out of state, allegedly chose not to report the case to higher authorities, opting instead for internal damage control.
“The search for the missing pistol has been ongoing for almost a month. The two inspectors were secretly interrogated, and their Commander deliberately kept the issue under wraps instead of escalating it to senior police authorities,” a police source at the Osun State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) disclosed.
With mounting pressure and media scrutiny intensifying, the pistol suddenly reappeared from an undisclosed location. The sudden recovery led to the release of Inspector Monday Alak, fueling speculations that the firearm was discreetly retrieved from a buyer in a desperate attempt to hush up the scandal.
While Alak has been freed, Inspector Osakpolor Edegbe remains in custody, as investigations revealed that he allegedly forged Alak’s signature in the arms register to rebook the weapon, misleading authorities to shift the blame.
Forgery within the police force is a grave offense, but this case exposes a broader culture of corruption, cover-ups, and internal power struggles. Edegbe, described by sources as one of the “bad eggs” within the force, is accused of a track record of implicating colleagues and engaging in questionable activities.
“There are suspicions that officers like Edegbe are not just responsible for internal misconduct but may also be involved in illegal arms dealings,” a concerned officer revealed.
The missing pistol incident is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of larger security concerns within the police force. Recently, Amotekun operatives in Osun State intercepted and disarmed MOPOL 39 officers who were illegally escorting a miner along Ibadan Road, further raising doubts about the integrity of some personnel within the unit.
Furthermore, SaharaReporters had earlier leaked an internal memo detailing multiple cases of missing weapons, including a tragic attack by bandits in Zamfara State, where both police officers and soldiers were ambushed, resulting in the loss of several service rifles.
Amidst the unfolding scandal, officers within the force are now urging police authorities to intervene decisively and launch a full-scale investigation. Many are demanding that Inspector Osakpolor Edegbe be summoned to Abuja to account for his actions in the MOPOL armoury and face disciplinary measures.
“This issue cannot be swept under the rug. The integrity of the Nigerian Police is at stake. If officers who misuse their positions are not held accountable, public trust in the force will continue to deteriorate,” a senior officer warned.
As the scandal continues to unfold, all eyes are now on the Nigeria Police Force leadership—will they take decisive action, or will this be yet another case of police corruption buried under bureaucratic silence?
PIONEER NEWS 