Police arrest DSS operatives over petrol attendant assault

Two operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have been arrested for allegedly beating up a petrol station attendant in Kuchingoro, Abuja.

Witnesses said the operatives also shot in the air and frightened customers tried to escape the scene. The situation led to the temporary closure of the petrol station on Airport Road.

A witness said the DSS personnel arrived at the petrol station in two vehicles, a Nissan pick-up van and a Toyota Corolla.

The witness who would not want to be named said trouble started when a petrol attendant told them to park the vehicle properly where it can be reached by the fuel dispenser’s nuzzle.

“This infuriated the DSS personnel and one of them alighted from the van and slapped the attendant. Another joined in the assault while the third officer fired a shot into the air,” the witness said.

The witness said the policemen on duty at the NIPCO petrol station rushed to intervene, but the DSS personnel kept maltreating the attendant and threatened to kill him.

This led to a face off between the policemen and the DSS operatives while customers scurry for safety.

An official of the service station who preferred anonymity said a petrol tanker was about to discharge its content and a liquefied gas tank was being tested when the shots were fired.

More policemen arrived at the scene and cordoned off while they compelled the DSS operatives to surrender.

A staff at the petrol station said some people left without paying while the fracas lasted.

The FCT police spokesman, ASP Usen Omorodion confirmed the incident, saying normalcy had been restored.

He said the two DSS officials have been transferred to the State CID for investigation.

He said, “We also reached out to the DSS FCT commander to report their conduct, after investigation we will transfer them to their agency for proper investigation and necessary disciplinary action.”