There was a pandemonium in Garki Modern Market in Abuja city on Thursday when some operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) stormed the market to effect a tailor’s arrest.
A viral video online shows some men in black uniform shooting into the air to disperse a mob gathering around their vehicle and trying to escape the scene of the incident while some Policemen, who appear neutral in the melee, were trying calm down frayed nerves.
According to an X platform (formerly Twitter) user, @Isaac Dorcas, she claimed that an unknown lady had called the DSS operatives to arrest her tailor, who allegedly didn’t deliver her clothes on schedule.
“…They came and not only shot him but a stray bullet hit an innocent sales girl sitting at her shop. They immediately took to their heels but were chased by the angry marketers. Highest level of lawlessness,” Dorcas wrote.
But, reacting to the incident hours later, the DSS said it has opened an investigation into the shooting involving its operatives, which allegedly injured a lady and the said tailor at the Garki Market.
The DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said: “the attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to an incident that occurred a few hours ago (September 7, 2023) between its staff and a mob at the Garki Market, Abuja.
“Information at the disposal of the Service was that its FCT command responded to an SOS from their field operatives who allegedly came under a mob attack in the said market.
“Consequently, the Service has commenced an investigation into the matter. The public is assured that details of the inquiries will be communicated as soon as possible.
“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.”
