DSS, police differ on how agent shot Abuja tailor death
The Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) have given different accounts of what led to the killing of a tailor, Mihammad Habibu at the Garki International Market, Abuja.
A report of the incident has that an unidentified woman called the secret police (DSS) on her tailor, Habibu for failing to sew her clother. Upon arriving the market, the DSS agents attempted to whisk Habibu away but were prevented by other traders at the market.
Infuriated by the confrontation, one of the unidentified DSS agent shot the tailor to death while another trader hit by a stray bullet was injured. The DSS agent reportedly tried to escape from the scene as angry traders confronted them. The police arrived at the scene and eventually saved the secret agents from the baying mob.
The FCT Police Command, in a report, claimed to have arrested the killer operative and that investigation was ongoing. Haruna Garba, the FCT’s commissioner of police, reportedly said that “the DSS operative is still in our custody”, and, “investigation is still ongoing.”
In her account, FCT police command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, alluded to “an altercation” between market occupants and certain individuals, including an SSS agent and Mr Habibu.
“The Garki Divisional Police station mobilised officers in response to a distress call, reporting the invasion of the market by these individuals, who fired shots at a tailor known as Mubarak Mubarak. This incident led to some of the local youths reacting angrily and attempting to confront the DSS personnel involved,” the police statement explained. “In response, the police intervened to rescue the individuals and protect public safety.”
On its part, the DSS claimed that the agents had “responded to an SOS from their field operatives”, but allegedly came under a mob attack in the said market.”
“The Service assures that it will not hesitate to mete out proper disciplinary measure(s) to its staff if found culpable or running foul of standard operating procedures on dealing with a member of the public.”
