Nigerian Police DSP Shoots Self Dead Over Alleged Supply of Arms to Bandits
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), identified as Idaho Abdullahi, attached to the Mobile Police Force, Mopol 12, in Niger State has shot himself dead while under investigation over alleged involvement in the diversion of arms and ammunition to bandits operating in parts of the state.
OTN News further reports as gathed that the officer also known as Kunkuri, was until his death the officer in charge of the Mopol 12 armoury located within the B Division premises of the Niger State Police Command along Paikoro Road, Minna.
OTN News recalls that trouble began for the senior officer when a team of detectives from Abuja arrived at the unit for the routine annual audit of arms and ammunition, unannounced.
However, during the exercise, several rounds of ammunition were reportedly found to be missing and unaccounted for, and the team commenced auditing the AK-47 section of the armoury when the incident occurred, which later led to the arrest of inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House in Minna.
During interrogation, Moses allegedly confessed that the late DSP supplied him with arms and ammunition, which were later delivered to bandits and other criminal elements operating in Erena community, Shiroro Local Government Area.
The inspector was also said to have disclosed that the weapons were sold through his brother, an indigene of the area who allegedly acted as an intermediary and informant to the armed groups.
Following the development, operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) reportedly stormed Minna and transferred the suspects to Abuja for further interrogation.
It was gathered that the late DSP was later returned from Abuja and taken to the armoury for a physical audit of weapons and ammunition. During the process, he reportedly accessed a pistol within the armoury and died on the spot.
Investigators said the officer could not be restrained at the time because the armoury operates an electronic control system, with access reportedly limited to him, allowing him to reach a weapon before officers could intervene.
However, in the aftermath, officers who accompanied him to the armoury were immediately arrested and are facing an orderly room trial over alleged negligence, while four policemen attached to the deceased had also been taken into custody for interrogation.
A special security team from the NSA is said to have taken over the armoury and is currently guarding the facility.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, told journalists that Inspector John Moses remains under investigation at the NSA office in Abuja.
In the process, he suddenly produced a pistol and shot himself, Elleman said, adding that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
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