The Kogi State Police Command has declared the late Muhammad Kassim and six other suspects as cultists and arms runners.
In a statement issued by spokesman Williams Ovye-Aya and obtained by Umpire News, the command refuted allegations of an unlawful killing.
Social Democratic Party’s Publicity Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, claimed the police killed Kassim in what appeared politically motivated.
Ovye-Aya clarified that Kassim, also known as Enemi of Idah, belonged to an arms trafficking syndicate in Kogi.
The police received a legal intercept from the Office of the National Security Adviser, implicating suspect Mohammed Amedu.
After Amedu’s arrest on June 22 by DSS operatives, the case was transferred to Kogi police on June 28.
Under interrogation, Amedu allegedly confessed and identified Kassim and others as accomplices in the illegal arms trade.
Investigators learned Kassim had purchased 20 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition to test an AK47 rifle in his possession.
Following this lead, the police arrested five other suspects and recovered two locally made Beretta pistols from the group.
SCID operatives then went to Idah on July 7 to invite Kassim for questioning, but he fled on sight.
Despite several attempts, he refused to honour police invitations, prompting further action to apprehend him at a later time.
Eventually, police located him in Idah among suspected gang members, and he attempted to escape and resist arrest.
During the struggle, Kassim reportedly tried to snatch a rifle, which discharged and hit him on the leg.
His associates whisked him away while wounded, but he later died from the gunshot injuries sustained during the encounter.
Ovye-Aya said investigation continues
