A police inspector and his girlfriend are being held in Taraba State. This follows the reported loss of a service rifle on a major highway. The Taraba State Police Command confirmed the detention on Saturday.
The missing firearm is a Type 06 assault rifle. It was assigned to Inspector Joshua Charles. Charles is 45 years old and serves with the Safer Highway Patrol. The incident occurred along the Wukari-Jootar Federal Highway.
A report by security analyst Zagazola Makam detailed the event. It states the incident happened on December 25, 2025. Inspector Charles reportedly left his duty post around 3:00 p.m. He traveled to Wukari town, leaving three other officers at the post.
The report says his girlfriend, Ruth Alphancis, returned to their home later. She arrived from Jootar village in Benue State around 8:30 p.m. Alphancis told police she saw an unidentified person fleeing the house. Inspector Charles returned from Wukari town afterwards.
Upon his return, he discovered his rifle was missing. The weapon was loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition. He stated he had left the rifle inside the room before leaving. A source described the inspector as allegedly being in a drunken state at the time.
The breach number of the missing rifle has not been made public. Police sources say operatives have visited the scene of the incident. Efforts are now focused on recovering the firearm and finding those responsible.
The inspector and his girlfriend are in police detention. They are being held to aid the investigation, according to officials. Collaborative search efforts are also underway. These efforts involve local residents and hunters in the area.
The police have not released an official statement on potential charges. The investigation into the circumstances of the rifle's disappearance continues. The case raises concerns about the security of police weapons.