A tragic incident rocked Sarkin-Pawa, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State in the early hours of Wednesday.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) confirms that the incident involved a police inspector deployed to the area for a special assignment.
The officer, identified as Inspector Bassey Asuquo, reportedly died by suicide at about 1:50 a.m.
Inspector Asuquo was a serving member of the 28 Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit based in Umuahia, Abia State.
He was temporarily stationed in Sarkin-Pawa for a security-related assignment.
The report was made public on Thursday through a post by well-known security analyst, Zagazola Makama, on the social media platform X.
According to Makama’s update, the inspector had been displaying signs of unusual or erratic behaviour prior to his death.
Recognizing the risk, his Unit Commander had reportedly ordered that his service rifle be retrieved and stored in the armoury at the Sarkin-Pawa Police Division.
Despite this precautionary measure, the tragic incident was not prevented.
It was later discovered that Inspector Asuquo managed to access another officer’s rifle while the officer was asleep.
He allegedly used the weapon to fatally shoot himself in the head.
The sudden and tragic death of the inspector has shocked both the police community and local residents.
His remains were deposited at the General Hospital in Sarkin-Pawa.
Police authorities have not yet issued an official statement detailing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The motive behind the suicide remains unclear, though concerns about the inspector’s mental health have now come to light.
Mental health experts have consistently emphasized the need for psychological support and regular evaluations within the security forces.
Cases like Inspector Asuquo’s highlight the emotional and psychological toll faced by officers serving under high-stress conditions.
It is not yet clear whether the police will launch a formal investigation into how the rifle was accessed after the initial safety measures were taken.
As of press time, there has been no official communication from the Force Headquarters in Abuja regarding follow-up actions or support for the deceased’s family.
The Nigerian Police Force has faced growing pressure in recent years to address mental health challenges among its personnel.
This incident adds to the rising number of internal security concerns affecting law enforcement officers nationwide.
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