Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Minna, Niger State — A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) attached to the Mobile Police Force (Mopol 12) has died by suicide during an arms audit at a police unit in Minna, the state capital, an incident that has intensified concerns about firearm safety, armoury oversight, and accountability within security institutions. The tragic event unfolded on Thursday, 18 December 2025, as investigators were carrying out a routine inspection of weapons and ammunition, according to official statements and law enforcement sources.
The deceased officer has been identified as DSP Isah Abdullahi, popularly known as Kunkuri, who served as the officer‑in‑charge of the armoury at Mopol 12, located within the B Division premises of the Niger State Police Command along Paikoro Road. The audit, initiated by a team of detectives from Abuja, was part of an annual arms and ammunition inventory intended to account for issued weapons and ensure proper custody.
During the audit, security personnel reportedly discovered significant discrepancies. Authorities found that an estimated 13 AK‑47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition were missing or unaccounted for, prompting arrests and further inquiries into the supply chains and custody of police weaponry. The situation escalated when the DSP was returned to the armoury for a physical verification of the stockpile. It was at this point that he accessed a pistol and fatally shot himself, according to statements from police officials, including the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman.
Commissioner Elleman explained that although the audit focussed on the AK‑47 section of the armoury, the imminent investigation into missing weapons and ammunition had placed intense scrutiny on officers responsible for custody. Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House in Minna, was also arrested in connection with the missing weapons and alleged to have implicated the late DSP in supplying arms and ammunition that were later delivered to bandits and criminal elements in parts of the state. This emerging narrative has compounded concerns about internal arms diversion and illegal supply networks.
The circumstances of the DSP’s death have drawn attention to arms safety protocols within police facilities, particularly the risk that officers under investigation or facing disciplinary action may have unrestricted access to service weapons without adequate safeguards. Police sources noted that the armoury in question operated an electronic access control system, with limited personnel clearance, meaning that only those authorised could withdraw firearms. In this case, that access reportedly played a role in the rapid escalation of events, as colleagues were unable to intervene once the DSP retrieved the pistol.
In response to the incident, officers who accompanied the DSP to the armoury are now facing disciplinary action, including an orderly room trial for alleged negligence. Additionally, four other policemen who were attached to the deceased have been taken into custody for interrogation. A special security team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has since taken over the armoury and is overseeing its security and ongoing investigations.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Niger State, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that the DSP had been initially arrested on 15 December 2025 over suspected illegal dealings in ammunition, and was still under investigation at the time of his death. Authorities emphasised that follow‑up autopsy and forensic analysis are expected to further clarify the circumstances surrounding his shooting.
This incident has underscored broader systemic concerns about arms accountability within security services — particularly how weapons and ammunition are tracked, audited and safeguarded. Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of ensuring that state‑owned weapons do not fall into the hands of criminal groups or insurgents, an issue that has exacerbated insecurity in many regions. The suspected diversion of police arms to bandit networks, should allegations prove accurate, would mark a serious breach of trust and heighten calls for reform in armoury controls and oversight mechanisms.
Security experts and civil society advocates have pointed out that firearm incidents — whether accidental, intentional or linked to illicit diversion — highlight the need for strengthened protocols, transparent audits and robust psychological and professional support for officers under stress or investigation. The tragic loss of a senior officer in such circumstances raises difficult questions about internal discipline, custodial responsibilities and the pressures faced by personnel involved in law enforcement and public security.
As investigations continue, the case is expected to prompt reviews of arms inventory practices, chain‑of‑custody procedures, and internal controls designed to ensure that weapons remain secure and accounted for, free from misuse or diversion to unauthorised users. The incident also serves as a somber reminder of the human dimensions of security work and the critical importance of safeguarding both personnel and public trust in law enforcement institutions.
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