A police inspector attached to the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja has lost an assault rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition after suspected thieves stole his vehicle and carted away the weapon, according to an internal police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters.
The police signal, dated June 16, 2026, and circulated to commands across the country, revealed that the missing firearm belongs to Inspector Mohammed Abdullahi, attached to the Government House security detail in Lokoja.
According to the report, the officer parked his Toyota Camry with Kaduna registration number ZKW 650AA at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) premises in Lokoja on June 13 at about 7:30 p.m., leaving inside the vehicle a police rifle bearing breech number FA 4082 along with 30 rounds of 7.62×39mm live ammunition.
The officer reportedly returned later to discover that the vehicle had been stolen.
Following the report, police authorities alerted divisions, patrol units, the Control Room, and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Lokoja, while teams were mobilised across the city and adjoining roads in an effort to recover the vehicle and the missing weapon.
The wireless message disclosed that the vehicle was subsequently found abandoned opposite the Federal University, Felele, Lokoja. However, the rifle and ammunition had been removed before the car was recovered.
Police authorities have since launched a nationwide manhunt for the missing firearm, directing all state commands, tactical units, patrol teams, detectives, and operatives to intensify efforts to trace and recover the weapon.
The signal urged officers across the country to disseminate information about the stolen rifle to their formations and divisions and to immediately notify the Kogi State Police Command if the weapon is sighted.
“Be informed that on 13/06/2026 at about 19:30 hours, Police Number 372825, Inspector Mohammed Abdullahi, attached to my office, reported that he parked his Toyota Camry with Kaduna State registration number ZKW 650AA at the NUJ Secretariat, Lokoja, with a police rifle (breech number FA 4082) and 30 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition inside the vehicle,” the wireless message said.
“When he returned, the vehicle was missing.
“Upon receipt of the report, the following units were informed: SUPOLs ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ Divisions, the Control Room, and the Divisional Crime Branch (VCRU), Lokoja.
“Teams from MINE and VERU Lokoja were mobilised to patrol the town and major roads for possible recovery of the vehicle and rifle.”
“The vehicle was later found abandoned opposite the Federal University, Lokoja, Felele, while the rifle had been taken away,” it added.
(SaharaReporters)
