Police Inspector Loses Rifle, Ammunition as Thieves Steal Vehicle at Kogi NUJ

A police inspector attached to the Kogi State Government House security detail has lost an assault rifle and 30 rounds of live ammunition after suspected thieves stole his vehicle from the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja.

The incident, which occurred on June 13, 2026, has triggered a nationwide manhunt for the missing firearm .

The officer, identified as Inspector Mohammed Abdullahi, reportedly parked his Toyota Camry with Kaduna registration number ZKW 650AA at the NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja at about 7:30 p.m. He left a police rifle with breech number FA 4082 and 30 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition inside the vehicle. When the inspector returned, he discovered that the vehicle had been stolen.

An internal police wireless message dated June 16, 2026, detailed the theft and was circulated to commands across the country.

“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”.

Following the report, police authorities promptly alerted divisional commands, patrol units, the Control Room, and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Lokoja. Teams from the MINE and VERU units were mobilised to patrol the town and major roads for possible recovery of the vehicle and the rifle.

The stolen Toyota Camry was later found abandoned opposite the Federal University in Felele, Lokoja. However, the rifle and ammunition had already been removed from the vehicle before it was recovered.

“The vehicle was later found abandoned opposite the Federal University, Lokoja, Felele, while the rifle had been taken away,” the police message added.

Police authorities have launched a nationwide search for the missing weapon, directing all state commands, tactical units, detectives, and patrol teams to intensify efforts to trace and recover the rifle.

Officers across the country have been instructed to circulate details of the stolen firearm and immediately notify the Kogi State Police Command if the weapon is found.