Deputy Superintendent of Police accused of supplying weapons to bandits shoots self dead

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) attached to the Police Mobile Force, Mopol 12, in Niger State, Isah Abdullahi, popularly known as Kunkuri, has died amid allegations linking him to the supply of arms and ammunition to bandits and other criminal elements in the state.

Before his death, the officer served as the armoury officer of Mopol 12, which is located within the premises of the B Division of the Niger State Police Command along Paikoro Road, Minna.

The incident followed a routine annual audit of arms and ammunition conducted by a team of detectives from Abuja. During the exercise, discrepancies were reportedly discovered, with several ammunition stockpiles either missing or unaccounted for.

Preliminary findings indicated that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition could not be traced. Although the armoury housed different categories of weapons, only the AK-47 section had been audited before the incident occurred.

Investigations led to the arrest of a police inspector attached to the Niger State Government House in Minna. During interrogation, the inspector reportedly confessed that the late DSP supplied him with arms and ammunition, which were allegedly delivered to bandits and other hoodlums operating in the Erena community of Shiroro Local Government Area.

He further disclosed that the weapons were sold to the bandits through his brother, an indigene of the area who also reportedly serves as an informant to the criminals.

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Operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) were said to have moved into Minna and taken the suspects to Abuja for further investigation. The DSP was later returned from Abuja and taken to the armoury for a physical audit of the weapons.

It was during this process that the late DSP reportedly grabbed one of the pistols in the armoury and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.

It was gathered that he was not handcuffed because the armoury is electronically controlled, with access limited to him alone.

Following the incident, the police officers who accompanied the DSP to the armoury were immediately arrested and are facing an orderly room trial over allegations of negligence and murder.

In addition, four police officers attached to the deceased have also been arrested and are undergoing interrogation.

A special team from the Office of the NSA has since been deployed to guard the armoury around the clock pending a solution to its opening and closing mechanism.

Sources further disclosed that the late DSP reportedly owned at least two houses in choice areas of Minna, as well as several vehicles.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Elleman, said the inspector attached to government house remains under investigation at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.

Recounting the incident, Mr Elleman said the deceased “smartly brought out a pistol and shot himself when he started bringing out boxes that were supposed to contain ammunition and they were all empty.”

He added that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the actual cause of death.

Also speaking on the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said that on 16 December 2025 at about 2.30pm, DSP Abdullahi Isah of Mopol 12 Minna had earlier been arrested on 15 December over suspected involvement in illegal ammunition dealings.

He explained that the officer was later taken to his office for a routine arms audit, during which the incident occurred.

“Meanwhile, the policemen who were detailed along for the audit and investigation activities were arrested for negligence in the line of duty, to have allowed such a situation to occur,” Mr Abiodun said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

(SUN)