DSP Commits Suicide over Alleged Link With Bandits, ACP Slumps, Dies in Ebonyi

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki and Laleye Dipo in Minna

A Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to Mopol 12 in the Paikoro Police station in Minna, Niger state, DSP Isah Abdullahi, alias Kunkuru, has committed suicide over alleged link with bandits.

Also, in Ebonyi State, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has slumped and died during a management meeting.

Abdullahi until the time he took his life was in charge of the armoury in the police station.

THISDAY gathered that some bandits, who operated around Erena in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, were arrested and taken to Abuja for investigations by the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

During interrogation, the bandits, according to findings, revealed that one Inspector John Moses attached to the Niger State Government House was the person supplying them with arms and ammunition.

It was learnt that operatives from the office of the National Security Adviser swooped on Minna during which they took away John Moses to Abuja for interrogation.

John Moses, reports further stated, disclosed to the operatives during investigations that it was his brother DSP Isah Abdullahi alias Kunkuru, who was providing the arms and ammunition he sold to the bandits.

It was learnt that investigators from the NSA’s office and those of the Commissioner of police, Niger State, combined and arrested DSP Abdullahi.

He was then taken to the armoury for on the spot investigations of arms and ammunition in the armoury.

Since the armoury was electronically controlled and only the DSP had the mechanism to open it, he was said not to be handcuffed.

Investigation revealed that as soon as the armoury was opened the deceased taking advantage of the dark environment went to a section of the facility where he had kept a loaded pistol picked it up, put it to his head and pulled the trigger, instantly blowing off his head.

THISDAY learnt that the four officers that accompanied the deceased to the armoury were immediately arrested and facing orderly room trial for alleged “negligence”.

A special team from the office of the NSA is said to be guarding the armoury 24 hours pending when a solution would be found to its opening and closing.

Informed sources also told THISDAY that the deceased DSP was reported to own at least 2 houses in choice areas of Minna and a number of cars.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adamu Elleman, confirmed the story saying, Inspector John Moses is still facing investigations in the office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.

Elleman, recounting how the DSP killed himself, said the deceased “smartly brought out a pistol and shot himself when he started bringing out boxes that were supposed to contain ammunition and they were empty.”

The police boss however said an autopsy would be carried out on the body of the deceased to determine actual cause of death.

ACP Slump, Dies in Ebonyi

In Ebonyi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has died, after slumping during a management meeting.

The death occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the office of the Commissioner of Police in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

While in active service, ACP Popoola was the officer in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID).

He was reported to have suddenly developed breathing challenges and started gasping for breath during the meeting.

However, efforts to resuscitate him at Police Medical Center at the police headquarters proved abortive, as he was confirmed dead by doctors.

Preliminary medical findings indicated that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, secondary to hypertensive heart disease.

His remains have been deposited at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA 1) mortuary in Abakaliki.

The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the death yesterday.

“Yes, one of them had a crisis during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive. He was not sick before the incident. If he were sick, he wouldn’t have attended the meeting,” he added.

Ukandu described the late ACP Popoola as a dedicated officer, who served the Force with commitment and professionalism.