The Nigeria Police Force lost 201 rifles to terrorists, bandits and other armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the 282 firearms stolen from security agencies nationwide, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.
The report, titled Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes, revealed that 282 rifles were stolen from security personnel in 94 separate incidents across the country during the period under review.
It stated that the police recorded the highest losses with 201 rifles, representing 71.3 per cent of the total.
The military lost 45 rifles (16 per cent), while unspecified security agencies lost 15 rifles (5.3 per cent).
Other agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Customs Service, lost 12 rifles, while vigilante groups lost nine.
According to the report, unknown gunmen were responsible for the largest share of the stolen weapons, taking 168 rifles, or 59.6 per cent of the total.
Bandits stole 58 rifles, while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was linked to the theft of 41.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was associated with nine stolen rifles, kidnappers with four, and Boko Haram with two.
The report identified Delta State as the worst affected, recording 67 stolen rifles, followed by Abia with 51, Borno with 40, Zamfara with 20 and Katsina with 11.
It noted that Delta and Abia alone accounted for 42 per cent of all rifle thefts recorded during the period.
SBM Intelligence also observed that the rate of rifle theft increased significantly in 2026.
Despite the losses, the report disclosed that security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles between 2021 and mid-2026, suggesting that the proliferation of illegal firearms in Nigeria extends well beyond weapons stolen from security personnel.
“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,” the report stated.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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