A serving Mobile Police officer has been arrested over his alleged involvement in a deadly armed robbery that claimed the life of a 22-year-old fuel attendant in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident, which has sparked outrage over alleged abuse of police uniform, occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a filling station in the Garun Mallam area of the town.
Security sources disclosed that the attack was carried out by two armed men, one of whom was dressed in a Mobile Police uniform and arrived on a motorcycle, raising suspicion of insider complicity.
The assailants were said to have first purchased fuel before turning on the attendant, identified as Jibrin Inuwa, and demanding cash.
When the victim resisted, he was reportedly shot at close range in the chest. The attackers thereafter fled the scene with an undisclosed sum.
The victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Kontagora, where he was confirmed dead. His remains were later released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Following a distress call, police operatives from the ‘A’ Division in Kontagora launched a manhunt and tracked the suspects to the Dadinkowa area, behind a vigilante office.
The operation led to a gun battle during which one of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries and was apprehended, while his accomplice escaped.
The arrested suspect was subsequently identified as Inspector Jido Ahmed, a serving officer attached to the 61 Police Mobile Force in Kontagora, who was reportedly on special duty in Agwara at the time of the incident.
He was initially treated at the General Hospital, Kontagora, before being transferred to the Police Clinic in Minna for further medical attention.
An AK-47 rifle and 12 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
Security sources said efforts were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspect, adding that a full-scale investigation had been launched into the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the officer’s alleged involvement.