A police inspector, Bassey Asuquo, tragically ended his life in the early hours of Wednesday in Sarkin-Pawa at Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The report by Zagazola Makama, a security-focused platform covering the Lake Chad region, said the incident happened around 1:59 a.m.
Bassey Asuquo, who was with the 28 Police Mobile Force unit based in Umuahia, Abia State, had been posted to Sarkin-Pawa for a special assignment.
According to sources cited in the report, the officer had been acting unusually in the days leading up to the incident.
Concerned about his behaviour, his unit commander reportedly had his service weapon taken away and secured in the local station’s armoury.
However, it’s alleged that Asuquo later accessed a colleague’s rifle while the officer was asleep and used it to shoot himself in the head.
His body was taken to a nearby morgue shortly after the incident.
Confirming the incident, Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said an investigation has been launched to understand what happened.
“The report is true. The command has commenced an investigation into the matter,” Abiodun stated.
This marks the second reported suicide involving a police officer in Niger State in just four months.
Back in February, Assistant Superintendent of Police Shafi’u Bawa, attached to the 61 Police Mobile Force, was foumd hanging from the ceiling of his room in Kontagora LGA