Police officer reportedly commits suicide over alleged supply of firearms to Bandits

Police officer reportedly commits suicide over alleged supply of firearms to Bandits

A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Isah Abdullahi, popularly known as Kunkuri and in charge of the armoury at MOPOL 12 in Minna, Niger State, has died amid an ongoing investigation into alleged diversion of arms and ammunition.

The incident occurred during a renewed audit of the unit’s armoury following claims that weapons under his watch were being supplied to bandits and other criminal groups operating in parts of the state.

Sources said the trouble began when a team of detectives from Abuja carried out a routine inspection and discovered that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition could not be accounted for.

Further inquiries reportedly led to the arrest of Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House, who was alleged to have linked the missing arms to criminal elements in Erena, Shiroro Local Government Area. Investigators were also said to be probing the role of other individuals mentioned during questioning.

As the probe deepened, operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) took over the case and moved key suspects, including Abdullahi, to Abuja. He was later brought back to Minna to assist investigators during a physical audit of the armoury, where he died under circumstances now being investigated.

Police authorities said the armoury, which operates with electronic access controls, has since been sealed off and placed under the guard of a special ONSA team, while an autopsy has been scheduled to establish the exact cause of death.

Confirming the development, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, said Inspector Moses remains in the custody of ONSA as investigations continue into the alleged illegal arms dealings.

In a separate statement, the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the officer’s death occurred in the course of an inquiry into suspected misconduct linked to missing ammunition, adding that several other officers are being questioned, while some have been detained for alleged negligence.

The police said they would make the outcome of the investigations public once concluded.

According to him, “On December 16, 2025, at about 2:30 pm, one DSP Abdullahi Isah, attached to 12 PMF Minna, who was initially arrested on 15th December for being suspected of involvement in illegal dealings of ammunition, was taken to his office for a routine arms audit.

“Unfortunately, while the audit process was ongoing, the said officer shot himself in the head through a pistol he picked up within the office and died on the spot.”

Abiodun also disclosed, “Meanwhile, the policemen who were detailed along for the audit and investigation activities were arrested for negligence in the line of duty, for allowing such a situation to occur. Further investigation is in progress at Paiko Road Police Station, Minna.”

It was also learnt that operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser have taken over round-the-clock security of the armoury as investigations continue into the suspected arms diversion.