A shocking incident unfolded at Garki International Market, Abuja, as State Security Service (SSS) agents reportedly shot a fashion designer during an altercation with a tailor, Muhammad Habibu, and other market occupants.
The victim of this tragic incident has been identified as Mubarak Mubarak.
A video of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, showed an individual being shot in the leg and lying on the ground. A police officer can be seen attempting to control the situation as chaos ensues.
Witnesses at the scene expressed their outrage at the SSS agents’ actions. In response, one of the operatives hastily retreated to their vehicle and sped away. This prompted the angry crowd to pelt their vehicle with objects. Police officers intervened, preventing the agents from being lynched by the furious mob. Subsequently, the crowd stormed a nearby police post seeking justice.
One eyewitness who posted a video of the incident stated, “On the evening of September 7, 2023, a lady called some @OfficialDSSNG personnel to arrest her tailor who didn’t deliver her clothes. They came and not only shot him (the tailor) but a stray bullet hit an innocent salesgirl sitting at her shop. The action of the personnel angered marketers who attempted to block them from leaving the market. The personnel quickly took to their heels while the marketers pelted their vehicle with stones.”
Both the injured salesgirl and the tailor were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has confirmed the violent incident. Spokeswoman Josephine Adeh explained that the cause of the violence was “an altercation” between market occupants and certain individuals, including an SSS agent and Mr. Habibu.
“The Garki Divisional Police station mobilized 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 clarified. “In response, the police intervened to rescue the individuals and protect public safety.”
The State Security Service has initiated an investigation into the shooting at the market and the subsequent violence involving its operatives. In a statement issued by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the SSS stated, “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.”
The statement continued, “The Service assures that it will not hesitate to mete out proper disciplinary measures to its staff if found culpable or running foul of standard operating procedures on dealing with a member of the public.”
This incident has raised concerns about the use of force by security agencies and has prompted calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter. Their guns should be taken away from them when they’re not on official assignment’s.
