One Fatality as DSS Discharges Weapon During Abuja Incident

A stray bullet fired by Ajayi Abayomi, an officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), tragically killed one Musa Adamu and injured two others in Abuja.

The event occurred on January 19 in Karmajiji village, located within the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The altercation reportedly arose when the DSS officer accused a pickup truck driver of causing a traffic obstruction.

According to witnesses who spoke to our correspondent, the conflict ignited when the pickup truck unexpectedly broke down at the junction, creating a significant traffic jam.

Witnesses indicated that the DSS officer, driving a Peugeot 406, exited his vehicle and physically assaulted the driver of the pickup.

Muazu Kabiru, a bystander, recounted, “Tensions escalated when Ibrahim Sarkin Samari came to the scene to understand what was happening. Before we could react, the DSS officer opened his car door, pulled out a pistol, and fired,” Kabiru claimed.

The bullet struck Musa Adamu, who was sitting in front of a shop located a few meters away from the incident.

Moreover, the stray bullet injured two other individuals, Salisu Suleiman and Yakubu Samaila, who were in close proximity to Adamu.

Kabiru added, “After the officer missed his target and instead shot Malam Musa and the two others, an enraged crowd confronted him and damaged his vehicle.”

Following the shooting, police officers from a nearby outpost quickly arrived to restore order. The DSS officer managed to evade capture, although his vehicle was towed to the police station. Adamu was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jabi, where medical personnel later confirmed his death. The other two injured individuals were treated and later released.

Salisu Suleiman, a survivor of the incident, mentioned, “I was not even near the scene. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot, and before I knew it, I felt a bullet hit me in the abdomen.”

Another local, Shuaibu Ishaq, claimed that the DSS officer seemed to specifically aim at Ibrahim Sarkin Samari.

“Ibrahim intervened because the officer, who was not in uniform, had just slapped the driver. The officer then rushed to his vehicle, retrieved his pistol, and shot,” Ishaq alleged.

Ishaq further informed that the corpse of the deceased had not yet been buried.

He pointed out that the Director of the DSS in the FCT had taken responsibility for the situation and that the agency has already covered the medical expenses.

“The DSS for the FCT has assured that they will provide compensation (Diyya) to the family. This is why Ibrahim, who was very close to the deceased, cannot give further comments; the DSS has acknowledged their role in the incident and is willing to provide compensation,” Ishaq stated.

Musa Adamu, who worked as a cleric and Arabic instructor, also engaged in property dealings and is survived by two wives, Hauwa Mohammed and Rukayyat Abdulkadir, alongside their seven children.

During our reporter's visit to the homes of both wives, neighbors were observed expressing their condolences.

A police source confirmed that the matter has been escalated to the FCT Command.

“The case involving the DSS officer has been officially transferred. Nevertheless, the officer remains at large,” the police source confirmed.

In a statement from the chief of Karmajiji village, it was expressed: “The chief was displeased that an officer would resort to shooting three individuals over a vehicle breakdown. The operative’s vehicle is currently at the police station.”

Attempts by our reporter to obtain a comment from the DSS were unsuccessful, with phone calls to the agency going unanswered.

An email sent to the agency's official contact was still awaiting a reply as of the time of this report last night.

However, a source within the DSS remarked that the operative claimed he fired in self-defense to protect himself from being attacked.

“He discharged his weapon, but the victims have since been treated and released,” the source stated.