A Police Inspector attached to the Niger State Government House, Minna, has been arrested for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to bandi...
A Police Inspector attached to the Niger State Government House, Minna, has been arrested for allegedly selling arms and ammunition to bandits and hoodlums.
The suspect, Inspector John Moses, reportedly confessed to the crime, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
NAN quoted Moses as stating that the arms and ammunition were supplied to him by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Abdullahi Isah, who was attached to the 12 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Minna. He further confessed that he sold the weapons to bandits and hoodlums operating in Erena Community, Shiroro Local Government Area, through his brother.
Recall that DSP Abdullahi Isah, the former Head of Armoury at Mopol 12, allegedly shot himself dead during a routine arms audit.
The audit reportedly revealed that 13 AK-47 rifles and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition were missing or unaccounted for, affecting only the AK-47 section of the armoury.
It was further learnt that operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had taken 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 he allegedly picked up a pistol and shot himself.
Sources said the armoury was electronically controlled and that only the late DSP had access to it.
Police officers who accompanied him during the audit were arrested for negligence and are expected to face orderly room trial. At least four other officers linked to the late DSP are also being interrogated.
There were also allegations that the deceased owned multiple vehicles and houses in Minna.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abiodun Wasiu, told NAN in Minna on Friday that Isah was initially arrested on December 15 on suspicion of involvement in illegal ammunition dealings.
According to him, 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 in the head, dying instantly,” Wasiu said.
He added that the police officers detailed for the audit and investigation had been arrested for negligence in the line of duty and for allowing the incident to occur.
Wasiu stated that further investigations were ongoing.
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