Police, military, others lost 282 rifles to gunmen – Report

Nigerian security forces have lost a significant number of firearms to various armed groups, with 282 rifles stolen in 94 separate incidents between 2021 and mid-2026, according to a report by SBM Intel Violence Tracker. The report, titled "Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes," highlights the pervasive threat of armed groups across the country.

The Nigeria Police Force suffered the most substantial losses, with 201 rifles, or 71.3 percent of the total, falling into the wrong hands. The military lost 45 rifles, while other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Customs Service, lost a combined 12 rifles. Vigilantes also reported nine stolen rifles.

"Unknown gunmen" emerged as the most prolific thieves, responsible for 168 stolen rifles, representing 59.6 percent of the total. Bandits accounted for 58 rifles (20.6 percent), and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was linked to 41 rifles (14.5 percent). Other groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), kidnappers, and Boko Haram, were also implicated in smaller numbers of thefts.

Geographically, Delta state recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia with 51 and Borno with 40. These two states alone accounted for 42 percent of all stolen rifles. The report also noted an acceleration in the pace of these thefts in 2026. Despite these losses, security agencies managed to recover 1,442 rifles during the same period, indicating a broader issue of illegal weapons proliferation in Nigeria that extends beyond firearms stolen from security personnel.

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Between 2021 and mid-2026, armed groups stole 282 rifles from Nigerian security forces across 94 incidents. Police lost 71% of these. Delta and Abia accounted for 42% of thefts, with the pace accelerating in 2026. Yet the recoveries (1,442) dwarf thefts; this is a sign that Nigeria’s illegal weapons problem goes far beyond stolen service rifles.