The suspect, Atim Emmanuel, was said to have been arrested while coming out of the university campus.
The Bauchi State Police Command disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi on Friday.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police who issued the statement, said the 23-year-old confessed that he got the firearm on lease for two academic sessions.
He added that the suspect claimed he was using 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 N12,000.00.
“He further stated that he acquired the firearm for his protection and security from criminals when attacked.”
According to him, 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.”
