Panel Beater jailed two years for firearm possession, Drug Abuse

A 24-year-old panel beater, Bitrus Atu, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Magistrates’ Court in Jos for unlawful possession of a firearm and drug abuse.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos on Wednesday following Atu’s guilty plea to the charges.

The court declined to offer a fine, stating that the punishment should serve as a deterrent to others.

According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Ahmed Labaran, the incident occurred on July 1 when a police patrol team apprehended Atu.

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The panel beater was found in possession of a firearm and was also caught publicly smoking a substance suspected to be hemp, a prohibited drug under Plateau State law.

The arrest was made by a police patrol team led by ASP Audu Ameh, who reported the incident to the ‘A’ Division Police Station.

The conviction and subsequent jail term have been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some commending the court for its decision while others have called for stricter penalties for such offenses.