MINNA: A Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to Mopol 12 in Niger State, Isah Abdullahi, popularly known as Kunkuri, has died after reportedly shooting himself following his arrest over allegations that he supplied arms and ammunition to bandits operating in the state.
Until his death, DSP Abdullahi served as the armoury officer of Mopol 12, located within the B Division of the Niger State Police Command on Paikoro Road, Minna.
Sources said his troubles began when a team of detectives from Abuja arrived at the unit for a routine annual audit of arms and ammunition. During the exercise, the team allegedly discovered that several weapons and large quantities of ammunition were missing or could not be properly accounted for.
Preliminary findings reportedly showed that about 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition were unaccounted for.
Although the armoury housed different categories of weapons, only the AK-47 section had been audited before the tragic incident occurred.
Investigations later led to the arrest of a police inspector, John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House in Minna.
During interrogation, Moses allegedly confessed that DSP Abdullahi supplied him with arms and ammunition, which were then delivered to bandits and other criminal elements in Erena community, Shiroro Local Government Area.
The inspector further claimed that the weapons were sold to the bandits through his brother, an indigene of the area who also reportedly acted as an informant for the criminals.
Following these revelations, operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) reportedly moved into Minna and took the suspects to Abuja for further investigation.
DSP Abdullahi was later brought back from Abuja and taken to the Mopol 12 armoury for a physical audit of the weapons. It was during this process that he allegedly picked up a pistol from the armoury and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.
Sources explained that he was not handcuffed at the time because the armoury is electronically controlled, and only the DSP had access to the mechanism used to open it. This reportedly gave him the opportunity to reach a firearm.
In the aftermath of the incident, the officers who escorted him to the armoury were arrested and are said to be facing an orderly room trial over alleged negligence. Four other police officers attached to the late DSP have also been arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation.
A special security team from the Office of the NSA has since been deployed to guard the armoury around the clock while authorities work out how to secure and manage access to it.
Sources also claimed that the deceased officer owned at least two houses in prime areas of Minna, as well as several vehicles.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Elleman, said Inspector John Moses remains under investigation at the Office of the NSA in Abuja.
He explained that the DSP shot himself while opening boxes that were supposed to contain ammunition but were found empty.
The police commissioner added that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the actual cause of death.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, also confirmed the development, stating that DSP Abdullahi was arrested on December 15, 2025, over suspected illegal dealings in ammunition.
According to him, the officer later shot himself during a routine arms audit at his office on December 16 at about 2:30pm.
Abiodun said the officers assigned to monitor the audit have been arrested for negligence, adding that further investigations are ongoing.
