Police have locked up Inspector Joshua Charles and his girlfriend, Ruth Alphancis, after the officer’s loaded service rifle vanished in Taraba.
The rifle, a Type 06 assault weapon with 25 live rounds, disappeared on Christmas Day, 25 December, along the Wukari–Jootar Federal Highway—an area patrolled by the Safer Highway squad Charles belongs to.
Police sources say Charles, 45, abandoned his post around 3:00 p.m. and headed into Wukari town, leaving three fellow inspectors—Haruna Galadima, Isah Waziri and Umar Mohammed—manning the station.
At about 8:30 p.m., Alphancis got back to their home in Jalingo’s Sabon Gari area after visiting Jootar village in neighbouring Benue State. She told officers she saw an unknown man dash out of the house.
When Charles returned—reportedly drunk—he found the rifle gone; he insists he had left it inside the room. Its breach number hasn’t been released.
Detectives have sealed the scene and launched a full search, working with local residents and hunters to recover the weapon and track down whoever took it.
“The inspector and his girlfriend are in detention to help with the investigation,” a source said, noting the Command is treating the security lapse very seriously.
Taraba’s Police Public Relations Officer is expected to issue an official statement soon.
