A disturbing security report has revealed that terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups stole 282 rifles from Nigerian security agencies between 2021 and mid-2026, with the Nigeria Police Force accounting for 201 of the missing weapons.
The report by SBM Intel Violence Tracker, titled “Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes,” disclosed that the rifles were taken during 94 separate attacks on security personnel across the country.
According to the report, the Police suffered the heaviest losses with 201 rifles, representing 71.3 per cent of all stolen weapons. The military lost 45 rifles (16 per cent), while unspecified security agencies lost 15 rifles (5.3 per cent).
Other affected agencies included the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Customs Service, which lost a combined 12 rifles, while vigilante groups lost nine rifles.
The report identified unknown gunmen as the biggest culprits, making away with 168 rifles, representing 59.6 per cent of the stolen weapons.
Bandits reportedly stole 58 rifles (20.6 per cent), while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carted away 41 rifles (14.5 per cent). The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was linked to the theft of nine rifles, kidnappers stole four, while Boko Haram accounted for two.
State-by-state analysis showed that Delta recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia (51), Borno (40), Zamfara (20) and Katsina (11).
The report noted that Delta and Abia alone accounted for 42 per cent of all stolen rifles recorded during the period under review.
SBM Intel also warned that the rate of rifle theft increased sharply in 2026, raising fresh concerns over attacks on security personnel.
Despite the losses, the report stated that security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles within the same period, suggesting that Nigeria’s illegal arms crisis extends far beyond weapons stolen from security operatives.
The report stated: “Between 2021 and mid-2026, armed groups stole 282 rifles from Nigerian security forces across 94 incidents. Police lost 71 per cent of these. Delta and Abia accounted for 42 per cent 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.”
