A police inspector attached to the Niger Government House in Minna has been arrested for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to bandits and hoodlums. The suspect, Inspector John Moses, reportedly confessed to the crime.
A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday quoted Moses as saying that the arms and ammunition were supplied to him by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Abdullahi Isah, attached to 12 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Minna. He allegedly sold the weapons to bandits and hoodlums in Erena Community, Shiroro Local Government Area, through his brother.
DSP Abdullahi Isah, who was the Head of Armoury at Mopol 12, reportedly died after shooting himself during a routine arms audit. The audit had revealed that 13 AK-47 rifles and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition were missing or unaccounted for in the armoury’s AK-47 section.
It was learnt that operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser initially took the suspects to Abuja for further investigation. Isah was later brought back to Minna and taken to the armoury for a physical audit, during which the incident occurred.
The armoury is said to be electronically controlled, with access reportedly limited to the DSP. Officers who accompanied him during the audit have been arrested for negligence and are expected to face an orderly room trial. At least four other police officers linked to the late DSP are also being interrogated.
It was further alleged that the deceased officer owned multiple cars and houses in Minna.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abiodun Wasiu, confirmed the incident to NAN on Friday in Minna. He said Isah was initially arrested on December 15 on suspicion of involvement in illegal dealings in ammunition.
According to Wasiu, on December 16 at about 2:30 p.m., Isah was taken to his office for a routine arms audit. “Unfortunately, while the audit process was ongoing, Isah picked a pistol from within the office and shot himself, dying instantly,” he said.
Wasiu added that officers assigned to the audit and investigation had been arrested for negligence in the line of duty, stressing that further investigation into the matter was ongoing.
