Police detain inspector, girlfriend over missing service rifle

Police operatives have detained an inspector and his partner over the disappearance of a service rifle along the Wukari–Jootar Federal Highway, Taraba State.

Security sources told analyst Zagozola Makama that the firearm belongs to Insp. J. Charles, 45, attached to the Safer Highway Patrol team.

According to the sources, the incident occurred on December 25 at about 3:00 p.m. when the inspector reportedly left his duty post for Wukari town, leaving behind three officers—Insp. Haru Galadima, Insp. I. Waziri and Insp. U. Mohammed—who remained on duty.

“At about 8:30 p.m., the inspector’s girlfriend, one Ruth Alphan of the Sabon Gari area of Jalingo, who has been cohabiting with him since August 2025, returned from Jootar village in Benue State and claimed to have seen an unidentified person breaking out of the house,” a source said.

The source added that when the inspector returned from Wukari town, allegedly in a drunken state, he discovered that his Type 06 assault rifle, loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition and reportedly kept inside the room, was missing.

It was further gathered that the breach number of the rifle could not be immediately ascertained.

Following the report, security operatives visited the scene as efforts were intensified to recover the missing weapon and identify those responsible.

“The inspector and his girlfriend are currently in detention to aid investigation, while collaborative efforts involving local residents and hunters are ongoing to recover the rifle,” the source added.