Following a heated confrontation, a yet to be identified security personnel has allegedly shot dead a member of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) task force in Wuse II district of Abuja.
The confrontation which led to shooting took place on the popular Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, reportedly triggered serious panic and chaotic situation in the area as residents and passersby had to flee the scene.
It was gathered that the deceased who was part of a team that attempted to impound a moving vehicle when a heated argument broke out between members of the task force and occupants of a car.
Information pieced together indicated that the vehicle was part of a convoy conveying security personnel and foreign nationals at the time of the incident.
It further gathered that the car stopped by the FCT Task Force had a foreigner inside and efforts by the security officials to explain their mission fell into deaf ears of members of the Task Force as they are used to behave.
An eye witness account said the situation escalated after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light and members of the task force swam on the vehicle and reportedly blocked it with an instrument that prevented the tyres of the vehicle from moving.
Following the development, the driver of the vehicle protested against their locking his tyres with an object placed under his car which preventing him from moving his vehicle.
A source at the scene of the incident explained that there were three occupants of the vehicle when the vehicle was stopped at the traffic light.
According to the source; “The officer kept saying, remove the object you placed under my car. My tyre is stuck, but he was ignored by the task force”.
“Expectedly, tension heightened when the traffic light turned green which allowed other vehicles to move while the driver remained immobilised.
“At this point, he asked them to remove the object from his car to enable him go, but they insisted that he must either provide his papers or pay,” the eyewitness said.
As the unhealthy confrontation escalated, the security operative pulled out his gun and allegedly fired a warning shot into the air to scare members of the task force.
“The members of the FCT task force continued the confrontation, declaring that they were and would not be afraid of gun wielding security personnel. As they approached the security personnel, he quickly stepped back and shot one of them on the forehead, following which he immediately fell and died instantly,” the witness explained.
It was gathered that following the development, the assailant reportedly fled the scene to avoid possible backlash.
A motorist who volunteered to speak on the unfortunate incident, stated that the activities of members of the FCT Task Force has reached a level where they must be checked as they constantly create tension in an already tensed environment.
The motorist further said that the FCT Task Force is not in any way backed by law, they operate with reckless abandon as if they are above the law as they damage people’s cars and at times injure drivers all in the name of enforcing what is not known to residents of the FCT.
The authorities are yet to issue an official statement with regard to the incident.
