Police detain inspector, girlfriend over missing rifle in Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command has detained a police inspector and his girlfriend after an assault rifle was reported missing along the Wukari–Jootar Federal Highway.

Sources said the missing weapon belonged to Insp. Joshua Charles, 45, who is attached to the Safer Highway Patrol team.

According to the report, the inspector allegedly left his duty post on December 25 at about 3:00 p.m. to visit Wukari town, leaving three colleagues — Insp. Haruna Galadima, Insp. Isah Waziri, and Insp. Umar Mohammed — on duty.

At about 8:30 p.m., his girlfriend, identified as Ruth Alphancis of Sabon Gari, Jalingo, who had just returned from Jootar village in Benue State, reportedly claimed she saw an unknown person leaving the inspector’s residence.

When the inspector returned later that night, he allegedly discovered that his Type 06 rifle, which he said had been left inside the room, was missing.

Police operatives visited the scene and opened an investigation, while efforts are ongoing to trace the firearm and identify those responsible.

Authorities confirmed that the inspector and his girlfriend are being held to assist with the investigation, while security agents continue working with community members and local hunters to aid recovery efforts.