On Sunday, a police inspector attached to the Olu’s palace in Warri, Delta State, misplaced his AK-47 rifle with serial number 0927 as well as 60 rounds of ammunition within the palace.
Yusuf Samaila, a mobile police officer, was watching the Super Eagles of Nigeria play the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final when they disappeared.
The police inspector from PMF 51, Oghara, the headquarters of Delta State’s Ethiope West local government area, reportedly lost the firearm when his room was burgled, and an unknown individual stole his gun.
Confirming the event, a Warri-based source stated that the mobile police officer had locked his rifle with 60 rounds of ammo inside his palace room and gone to watch the match, but when he returned, the firearm was removed.
“It was during halftime when he came back to his room, he discovered that the room had been burgled and both the rifle and ammunition taken away.”
“Based on this, his unit commander attached to the Olu of Warri Palace went to the Warri area command to report the case of the missing firearm within the palace premises.
“The police officer is being interrogated with the intention to recover and arrest anyone behind the stolen rifle and ammunition, while the palace chiefs are also said to be on top of the matter traditionally.”
When contacted, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development but said the rifle had been recovered.