By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi State Police Command has offered clarification on the circumstances surrounding the death of one Muhammed Kassim, popularly known as Enemi, a suspected arms dealer who had been on the police wanted list for criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and cult-related activities.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, the Command said the clarification became necessary following widespread speculation and misinformation circulating on social media.
According to the statement, a breakthrough in the investigation came after a legal intercept by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which linked one Mohammed Amedu to an arms trafficking network operating within and beyond Kogi State. Amedu was arrested by DSS operatives on June 22 and later handed over to the police on June 28.
During interrogation, Amedu reportedly confessed to being part of a wider syndicate and implicated Kassim (*Enemi*) and others as collaborators in the illegal arms trade. Police investigations further revealed that Enemi had allegedly purchased 20 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition to test an AK-47 rifle in his possession.
Following the development, police launched a manhunt and arrested five additional suspects connected to the syndicate. Two locally made Beretta pistols were also recovered during the operation.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) attempted to invite Enemi for questioning at his residence in Idah on July 7. However, he reportedly fled by jumping over a fence, evading arrest.
The police said that on a subsequent attempt to apprehend him, Enemi resisted arrest and tried to wrest a rifle from an officer during a scuffle. In the struggle, the rifle was accidentally discharged, hitting him in the leg.
The police spokesperson said Enemi’s alleged gang members forcibly removed him from the scene and took him to an undisclosed location where he later died from the gunshot wound.
SP Aya assured that investigations are still ongoing and all suspects currently in custody will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the probe.