Niger police officer commits suicide amid probe over diversion of arms to bandits
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) attached to the Mobile Police Force, Mopol 12, in Niger State has died while under investigation over alleged diversion of arms and ammunition to bandits operating in parts of the state.
The officer, identified as Isah Abdullahi, also known as Kunkuri, was the officer in charge of the Mopol 12 armoury located within the B Division premises of the Niger State Police Command in Minna.
According to The Sun, the investigation began when a team of detectives from Abuja carried out a routine annual audit of arms and ammunition at the unit and reportedly discovered discrepancies, with several rounds missing. Preliminary findings allegedly indicated that 13 AK-47 rifles and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition could not be accounted for.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House. During interrogation, Moses allegedly claimed that the late DSP supplied him with arms and ammunition, which were delivered to bandits and other criminal elements in Erena community, Shiroro Local Government Area, through an intermediary.
Operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) were said to have taken over the investigation and transferred the suspects to Abuja. The DSP was later returned to Minna for a physical audit of the armoury, where he died during the exercise.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, said, “The DSP brought out boxes that were supposed to contain ammunition and they were empty. In the process, he suddenly produced a pistol and shot himself,” adding that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
The police said officers who accompanied him to the armoury have been arrested for alleged negligence, while four policemen attached to the deceased are also being interrogated. A special security team from the NSA has taken over and is guarding the armoury.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the officer was initially arrested on December 15, 2025, over suspected illegal dealings in ammunition, adding that investigations into the missing weapons and the wider arms supply network are ongoing.
