Tragedy struck in Minna, the Niger State capital, as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Isah Abdullahi, also known as Kunkuri, attached to MOPOL 12, died during an investigation into alleged arms dealings.
The incident followed allegations linking the senior police officer to the supply of arms and ammunition to suspected bandits and other criminals in the state.
The crisis reportedly began during a routine audit of the MOPOL 12 armoury by detectives from Abuja, who allegedly discovered 13 missing AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House, who allegedly confessed that the late DSP supplied him with arms for delivery to bandits in Erena, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state. Moses reportedly named his brother, said to be an informant to the criminals, as the middleman in the deal.
Following these developments, the suspects were taken to Abuja by operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for further investigation.
ALSO READ: Pastor charged with harassing wife, posting nude photo before taking own life
The probe intensified, Abdullahi was brought from Abuja back to the armoury for a physical audit. It was during this process that he reportedly took his own life. The armoury’s electronic controls, which were said to be accessible only to Abdullahi, allegedly created the opportunity for the incident.
Further checks revealed that officers who were with him at the time were arrested for alleged negligence and are facing an Orderly Room trial, while four other police officers linked to the case are being interrogated.
Confirming the development, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, said Inspector Moses is currently under investigation by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to him, “He (Abdullahi) smartly brought out a pistol and shot himself when empty ammunition boxes were said to have been discovered.”
A special ONSA team is said to be guarding the armoury, while an autopsy is planned to determine the immediate or remote cause of death.
In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, stating that DSP Abdullahi died during an investigation into his alleged involvement in illegal ammunition dealings.
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 December 15, 2025, for being suspected of involvement in illegal dealings in ammunition, was taken to his office for a routine arms audit. Unfortunately, while the audit process was ongoing, the said officer shot himself with a pistol he picked up within the office and died on the spot.”
Abiodun also disclosed that the policemen detailed for the audit and investigation were arrested for alleged negligence while on duty for allowing the situation to occur.