Meanwhile, preliminary findings allegedly revealed that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition could not be accounted for.
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) attached to the Mobile Police Force, Mopol 12, in Niger State has died while under investigation over alleged involvement in the diversion of arms and ammunition to bandits operating in parts of the state.
The officer, identified as Isah Abdullahi, also known as Kunkuri, was until his death the officer in charge of the Mopol 12 armoury situated within the B Division premises of the Niger State Police Command along Paikoro Road, Minna.
The Sun reports that the senior officer’s troubles began when a team of detectives from Abuja arrived at the unit for a routine annual audit of arms and ammunition.
However, during the audit exercise, several rounds of ammunition were reportedly discovered to be missing or unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, preliminary findings allegedly revealed that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition could not be accounted for.
Investigators were said to have begun auditing the AK-47 section of the armoury when the incident occurred.
Further investigations reportedly resulted in the arrest of Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House in Minna.
During interrogation, Moses allegedly confessed that the late DSP supplied him with arms and ammunition, which were subsequently delivered to bandits and other criminal elements operating in Erena community, Shiroro Local Government Area.
The inspector was also said to have disclosed that the weapons were sold through his brother, an indigene of the area who allegedly served as an intermediary and informant to the armed groups.
Following the development, operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) reportedly arrived in Minna and transferred the suspects to Abuja for further interrogation.
It was gathered that the late DSP was later returned from Abuja and taken to the armoury for a physical audit of weapons and ammunition. During the process, he reportedly accessed a pistol within the armoury and died on the spot.
Investigators said the officer could not be restrained at the time because the armoury operates an electronic control system, with access reportedly restricted to him, enabling him to reach a weapon before officers could intervene.
However, in the aftermath, officers who accompanied him to the armoury were immediately arrested and are facing an orderly room trial over alleged negligence, while four policemen attached to the deceased were also taken into custody for interrogation.
A special security team from the NSA is said to have taken over the armoury and is currently guarding the facility.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, told journalists that Inspector John Moses remains under investigation at the NSA office in Abuja.
The DSP brought out boxes that were supposed to contain ammunition and they were empty.
In the process, he suddenly produced a pistol and shot himself, Elleman said, adding that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Also commenting on the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said the officer was initially arrested on December 15, 2025, over suspected illegal dealings in ammunition.
Abiodun said on 16 December 2025 at about 2.30pm, one DSP Abdullahi Isah attached to Mopol 12 Minna was initially arrested on 15 December for being suspected to be involved in illegal dealings of ammunition.
He added that officers indicted in the audit had been arrested for negligence, stressing that investigations into the missing weapons and the broader arms supply network are still ongoing.
