A police armament officer in Kaduna State, arrested while allegedly attempting to steal firearms from the command’s armoury, has committed suicide, police authorities said Friday.
Nanbol Audu, a deputy superintendent of police, “killed himself” early Friday, the State Commissioner of Police, Umar Ambursa, told PREMIUM TIMES.
He denied that the police officer may have been murdered while in detention.
“Yes, but he was not killed, he killed himself early this morning around 5a.m. in detention. We will let you know the details later,” he said.
Police officials said Mr. Audu “shot” himself while in police custody in Kaduna.
But the force did not explain how and where the accused officer obtained firearms while still in detention.
The police commissioner had said Mr. Audu and two others on Monday drove to the police armoury at night where they loaded firearms into a private vehicle.
He said police officers on guard suspected foul play and stopped the vehicle from leaving the premises.
“Upon interrogation, the State Armament Officer could not give satisfactory account of his action which led to his arrest and the two other occupants of the vehicle — one Zingkur Joseph of Trade Centre Jos and Samuel Adamu of Kuru Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, respectively,” Mr. Ambursa said.
“During search at the spot, 11 G3 Rifles already concealed under the vehicle seat were recovered,” the commissioners of police said.”
Mr. Ambursa added that investigations revealed that one of the two civilian suspects was a blacksmith who specializes in manufacturing locally-made firearms.
“The two suspects came from Jos, Plateau State on arrangement to purchase the said firearms from the Armament Officer at the cost of N400, 000,” Mr. Ambursa said.
He listed other recovered items as: N400, 000 cash, yellow Mercedes Benz 230-E with Registration number LGT 588 RJ used in concealing the arms.
Source: Premium Times
