Nigerian security forces lost 282 rifles to armed groups recovered 1,442 rifles in the same period

A new SBM Intel Violence Tracker report reveals that Nigerian security forces lost 282 rifles to armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, with the Nigeria Police Force accounting for 201, or 71.3%, of the stolen weapons. "Unknown gunmen" and bandits were the primary perpetrators, while the highest theft rates occurred in Delta and Abia states, with accelerated losses reported in 2026. Despite these thefts, security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles in the same period, indicating that the nation's illegal arms proliferation extends beyond weapons stolen from official personnel. 

The SBM Intel report reveals that Nigerian security forces lost 282 rifles to armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, with the Nigeria Police Force accounting for 71.3% of the losses. While "unknown gunmen" and bandits drove the thefts, concentrated in Delta and Abia states, the report notes that the 1,442 total weapons recovered during this period suggest a broader illegal arms crisis beyond stolen service gear