How DSS killed mother of 3 in Kaduna

Travellers residents of Ungwar Fada along the KadunaAbuja toll gate were on Wednesday thrown into confusion as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) opened fire on a moving vehicle (Golf 3), killing a mother of three and injuring one man in the head, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.

According to a witness, the DSS personnel opened fire on the vehicle when men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) stopped the driver and he declined.

“My car was the fourth car behind the Golf 3 vehicle, and I think the driver was trying to manoeuvre his way because there was a lorry which had developed fault on the road. So, it is possible that the DSS or road safety personnel tried to stop the driver of the Golf 3 and he didn’t stop, the next thing I heard were gun shots and the woman was killed in the process. One of the bullets also hit a man in the vehicle.

“I suspect that the DSS were on the lookout for a vehicle because while I was talking to one of the operatives, he was holding a device that was blinking continuously and he was in a hurry to end my discussion with him,” he said.

Angered by the action of the DSS, residents of the area and commercial drivers barricaded both lanes leading into and out of Kaduna, as a result of which thousands of travellers were stranded. The situation led to a gridlock. Travellers including male, female, young, old and children were seen hanging around, discussing in groups while they condemned the action of the DSS. However, some of the travellers blamed the driver of the vehicle for refusing to stop when he was asked to.

“The situation is getting out of hand. Last week, about five people died in an auto crash at this same point and it was caused by security personnel. They need to be called to order”, a man at the scene of the incident said.

It took the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu, and his entourage to restore calm.

The three kids of the deceased wept profusely as the police van conveyed the corpse of their mother.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim, confirmed that there was an accidental and discharge by DSS operatives, which killed the woman in the vehicle, adding that arrests have been made in respect of the shooting.

“Investigation has commenced and legal action would be taken against the personnel,” he said.

Efforts to reach DSS officials for comments on the issue proved abortive.