Nigerian Deputy Superintendent of Police in Niger State dies by suicide as investigation uncovers missing arms allegedly supplied to bandits.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Niger State, Isah Abdullahi, has died by suicide amid an investigation into the alleged supply of arms and ammunition to bandits and criminal groups.
Abdullahi, also known as Kunkuri, was the head of the Mopol 12 armoury located at the B Division of the Niger State Police Command on Paikoro Road, Minna. The incident occurred on December 16 during a routine audit of weapons and ammunition.
Trouble reportedly began when a team of detectives from Abuja conducted an annual inspection of the Mopol 12 armoury. Preliminary findings revealed that 13 AK-47 rifles and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition were missing or unaccounted for. Only the AK-47 section had been audited at that point.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Police Inspector John Moses, attached to the Niger State Government House, who allegedly confessed that Abdullahi supplied him with weapons for delivery to bandits in Erena community, Shiroro Local Government Area. Moses reportedly added that the arms were then sold to the bandits through his brother, who also serves as an informant to the criminals.
Read Also: NLC Members Protest In Abuja Amid Rising National Insecurity
Operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) swiftly moved to Minna, transporting suspects to Abuja for further investigation. Abdullahi was later brought back to the armory for a physical audit. It was during this process that he reportedly seized a pistol from the electronically controlled armory — for which he alone held access — and shot himself in the head, dying instantly.
Authorities have detained several officers who accompanied Abdullahi to the audit, citing negligence. Four additional police officers attached to the deceased are also under investigation. The NSA has deployed a special team to guard the armory around the clock while a secure mechanism for opening and closing it is determined.
Niger State Commissioner of Police Adamu Elleman confirmed the incident, noting that Inspector Moses remains under investigation by the NSA. An autopsy will be conducted to confirm the exact cause of death. DSP Wasiu Abiodun, the police public relations officer, reiterated that Abdullahi had been initially arrested on December 15, 2025, for alleged involvement in illegal arms dealings before the fatal audit.
Sources familiar with the case said the deceased owned multiple properties and vehicles in Minna. The tragic event has raised questions about oversight within Police armories and the risks posed by missing or mismanaged weapons in Nigeria.
