The Taraba State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old student, Usman A. Usman, for allegedly possessing an illegal firearm in Jalingo.
According to the police, the suspect, a student of the Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau Institute for Quranic Memorization, was found with a mini revolver pistol without ammunition. He allegedly intended to use the weapon to intimidate fellow students following a disagreement.
The arrest was made by operatives of the GRA Division after the school’s management reported a dispute between two students on July 14, 2026.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he obtained the firearm from another student, Akilu Alhassan, who is currently on the run. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing suspect and any other individuals connected to the case.
The Commissioner of Police, Morkwap Sebastian Dongshal, directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation to determine how the firearm was obtained and whether a wider criminal network is involved.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating cultism, illegal possession of firearms and other violent crimes, while urging parents, school authorities and community members to report suspicious activities to the police.