Police, Military, Others Lost 282 Rifles to Armed Groups, Report Reveals

A new security report has revealed that Nigerian security agencies lost at least 282 rifles to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other armed groups in 94 separate incidents recorded between 2021 and the first half of 2026.

According to the report by SBM Intelligence, titled Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes, the Nigeria Police Force accounted for the largest share of the stolen weapons, losing 201 rifles, representing 71.3 per cent 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, also recorded losses.

The report identified unknown gunmen as the leading perpetrators, responsible for seizing 168 rifles. Bandits were linked to the theft of 58 rifles, while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), kidnappers, Boko Haram and other armed groups were also implicated in several incidents.

Geographically, Delta State recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia with 51, Borno with 40, Zamfara with 20 and Katsina with 11. Together, Delta and Abia accounted for 42 per cent of all reported weapon thefts involving security personnel.

Despite the losses, the report noted that security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles during the same period, suggesting that the circulation of illegal firearms in Nigeria extends well beyond weapons stolen from government forces. It also observed that the rate of rifle thefts has increased significantly in 2026, raising fresh concerns about attacks on security personnel and the proliferation of illicit arms.