Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
An armed robbery suspect, Aliyu Salihu, has died after sustaining gunshot injuries during an attempted escape from police custody at the Maitumbi Division in Minna, the Niger State capital. The incident, which occurred at about 9:20 a.m. on November 23, has triggered an internal review within the Niger State Police Command.
Salihu, a resident of Wushishi Quarters, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a series of armed robbery cases reportedly under investigation by the division. According to sources familiar with the matter, he had been undergoing interrogation when he requested permission to ease himself.
What happened next, according to multiple accounts from police insiders, was a sudden and violent attempt to break free.
“While he was being escorted, the suspect pretended he wanted to relieve himself. He suddenly attacked the desk officer and one of the station guards, hitting them as he made a dash for the station fence,” one of the sources told Zagazola.
The officers at the scene were said to have raised an alarm as Salihu scaled the low section of the perimeter fence in his bid to escape. A station guard reportedly pursued him on foot and fired a single shot aimed at his lower limbs to incapacitate him.
The bullet struck him, causing significant bleeding and injuries. He was immediately evacuated to the Police Clinic in Minna for emergency treatment. Medical personnel attempted to stabilize him, but he was later confirmed dead due to complications from the gunshot wound.
His remains have been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary for further examination and possible autopsy, pending the conclusion of internal police procedures.
The Niger Police Command is expected to initiate a formal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the escape attempt, the use of firearms, and the conduct of officers on duty. A senior police officer told Zagazola that such reviews are standard practice when a suspect dies in custody, especially in situations involving the discharge of a police weapon.
“This is a routine process. Whenever there is a death in custody or a firearm is discharged, the command conducts a thorough internal investigation to determine whether officers followed established protocols,” the officer explained.
Human rights observers are also expected to follow developments closely, as deaths in police custody often attract public scrutiny and calls for transparency.
Residents in the Maitumbi area described the sudden movement of police personnel and the ambulance as “unsettling,” with some expressing concern over the rising number of jailbreak attempts recorded in the state in recent years.
Meanwhile, the injured officers attacked by the suspect during the escape attempt are said to be receiving medical attention. Their conditions were described as stable.
As the police continue their internal review, the incident adds to ongoing conversations about the challenges of managing detainees, the safety of officers, and the need for improved infrastructure in police divisions across the country.
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