Taraba: “Mentally ill” officer attacks church after bosses gave him AK-47 rifle
A Nigerian immigration officer has been arrested after breaking into, and vandalizing, a religious center in Jalingo, Taraba.
Mahmood Idris, whom police say is mentally ill, broke into a church after officially receiving a rifle from his bosses.
A guard on duty, with help from local vigilantes, overpowered and arrested Idris at 2am on Sunday but two other accomplices fled.
Idris was carrying an AK-47 rifle which belonged to the government. He duly requested for the weapon on Saturday and was granted permission to carry it. He then, with his “gang”, attacked the church on Sunday morning.
Idris, who was injured in the failed attack, was handed over to the police. He’s receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, state police spokesperson David Misal said.
Earlier reports said Idris injured a pastor during the failed attack. Misal said those reports were not true. He said, without providing any proof of a medical report that confirm such, Idris was suffering from mental illness. He then added that only medical examination could unravel the truth.
Nigerians now wonder why government officials would hand a weapon over to a mentally ill person.
