Nigerian Security Forces Lost 282 Rifles to Gunmen

According to a report by SBM Intelligence, Nigerian security agencies lost a total of 282 rifles to gunmen between 2021 and mid-2026, with the Nigerian Police Force losing 201 rifles, representing 71.3% of the total losses. The military lost 45 rifles, accounting for 16%, while unspecified security agencies lost 15 rifles, which is 5.3%.

The report identifies unknown gunmen as the primary perpetrators, responsible for 168 stolen rifles (59.6% of the total), followed by the Islamic State West Africa Province with 58 rifles (20.6%), and the Indigenous People of Biafra linked to nine rifles. The report also notes that Delta and Abia states accounted for 42% of the stolen rifles, with Delta recording the highest number at 67.

Despite the thefts, security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles during the same period, indicating a significant problem with illegal weapons proliferation in Nigeria.