Taraba Police Detain Officer Over Missing Rifle

The Taraba State Police Command has detained a serving police inspector and his girlfriend following reports that an assault rifle went missing near the Wukari–Jootar Federal Highway.

The Taraba missing rifle case was made public by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post shared on X on Saturday.

According to Makama, the firearm reportedly belongs to Inspector Joshua Charles, an officer attached to the Safer Highway Patrol squad.

He stated that the incident occurred on December 25, when the inspector allegedly left his duty post at a checkpoint and entered Wukari town, while three other officers remained on duty.

Later that day, the inspector’s girlfriend, identified as Ruth Alphancis, reportedly returned home and noticed signs suggesting that their room had been broken into.

“When the inspector came back, he allegedly found that his service rifle, which was loaded with ammunition, was missing,” Makama wrote.

Sources further claimed that the officer was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time the missing firearm was discovered. It was also reported that the full identification details of the rifle were not immediately available.

Following the report, police operatives were deployed to the area, and an investigation was launched.

According to Makama, both the inspector and his girlfriend were taken into custody to assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the weapon.

Police authorities have since commenced an intensive search for the missing rifle.

Officers are said to be working alongside local hunters and community members in an effort to recover the firearm and prevent any potential security threat.