The Nigeria Police Force lost 201 rifles to terrorists, bandits and other armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence’s Violence Tracker.

The report, titled Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes, revealed that a total of 282 rifles were stolen from Nigerian security agencies in 94 separate incidents during the period.

The report identified unknown gunmen as the biggest perpetrators, responsible for stealing 168 rifles, or 59.6 per cent of the total. Bandits accounted for 58 rifles (20.6 per cent), while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was linked to the theft of 41 rifles (14.5 per cent).

The report further noted that the rate of rifle theft accelerated in 2026, raising fresh concerns over the security of state armouries. Despite the losses, SBM Intelligence said security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles between 2021 and mid-2026, far exceeding the number stolen from security personnel. According to the report, this indicates that the proliferation of illegal firearms in Nigeria extends well beyond weapons taken from government security agencies.

“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,” the report stated