The State Police Command has detained Atim Emmanuel, a 23-year-old 300-level student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, on suspicion of possessing firearms and cartridges.
The development is a part of the Command’s attempts to round up criminal elements around the student communities throughout the state.
It comes just two weeks after the death of Joseph Agabaidu, a 500-level student at the same university, at the hands of assailants who have not yet been apprehended.
The 23-year-old student was detained on December 11, 2023, while leaving the university campus, according to Command PPRO SP Ahmed Wakili. He was found in possession of a revolver weapon and a cartridge created in the area.
In a press release on Friday, the PPRO said that the suspect admitted, after questioning, that he obtained the pistol from one Zadog, who rented it to him for N12, 000.00 over the course of two academic semesters.
He added that he bought the gun to defend himself and his security from robbers in the event that he was attacked.
Ahmed Wakili went on to say that the suspect will be charged in court after the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) completes its discreet investigation.
The CP, Auwal Mohammed Musa, has instructed that the suspect be moved to the SCID for a covert investigation to find out more about his reasons for obtaining the firearm and to find out if he has killed anyone with it.
“Finally, the command calls on parents, guardians, and leaders wielding various degrees of influence to prevail on their children and wards to guide against being used as cannon fodders in disrupting the relative peace and tranquilly enjoyed in the state,” the PPRO stressed.