The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a 300-level student of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, identified as Atim Emmanuel for being in possession of a revolver pistol and a cartridge.
This was according to a release by the Bauchi State Command on Friday, claiming that Atim Emmanuel was arrested while coming out of the university campus. The 23-year-old confessed that he got the firearm on lease for two academic sessions for N12,000.
Emmanuel also reportedly claimed that he used the locally-made pistol for protection and for security when attacked.
The statement read; “The Bauchi State Police Command in its efforts to mop up criminal elements around the students’ communities across the state, arrested one Atim Emmanuel, male (23), of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi in possession of firearm and cartridge.
“The 23-year-old student was arrested on December 11, 2023, with a locally made revolver pistol and a cartridge while coming out of the university campus.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he got the firearm from one Zadog ‘m’ who leased it to him for two academic semesters at the rate of N12,000.
“He further stated that he acquired the firearm for his protection and security from criminals when attacked.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation “to unravel more circumstances behind his motives for acquiring the firearm and to determine whether he has killed anyone with it.”
Atim’s arrest was amid an investigation towards what led to the cause of Joseph Agbabaidu, a final-year student of the university who was killed by suspected armed robbers earlier in the month.