Nigerian security agencies lost a total of 282 rifles to terrorists, bandits and other armed groups between 2021 and the first half of 2026, according to a new report by security intelligence firm SBM Intel.

The report, titled Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes, said the weapons were stolen in 94 separate incidents across the country.

It showed that the Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest losses, with 201 rifles stolen, representing 71.3 per cent of the total. The military lost 45 rifles, while unspecified security agencies lost 15. Other agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Customs Service, lost 12 rifles, while vigilante groups lost nine.

According to the report, unknown gunmen were responsible for stealing 168 rifles, making them the largest perpetrators. Bandits took 58 rifles, while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) accounted for 41. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was linked to the theft of nine rifles, while kidnappers and Boko Haram were responsible for four and two rifles respectively.

Delta State recorded the highest number of stolen rifles with 67, followed by Abia with 51, Borno with 40, Zamfara with 20 and Katsina with 11. Delta and Abia together accounted for 42 per cent of all reported rifle thefts.

The report also noted that the rate of rifle theft increased in 2026.

Despite the losses, SBM Intel said security agencies recovered 1,442 rifles during the same period, indicating that Nigeria’s illegal arms problem extends far beyond weapons stolen from security personnel. The report called for stronger measures to safeguard security armouries and tackle the growing circulation of illicit firearms across the country.