By: Enahoro Iyemefokhai
A tipping truck driver, was on Tuesday morning allegedly shot dead by the operatives of the Edo State Command of the Department of State Service (DSS).
One person was said to have sustained a gunshot injury while three others were arrested in a clash between the drivers and the operatives at Ikpoba slope by the office of the drivers.
The situation, however, resulted in a protest by the drivers, thereby causing gridlock in the ever-busy Ring road and its environs.
The protesting drivers with their trucks drove all the way from their office at the Ikpoba Slope in large number to the state command of the operatives to register their protest and demand for the release of the arrested colleagues.
It was gathered that trouble started when some vehicles conveying DSS operatives drove against traffic in a bid to avoid traffic jams on the other lane of the dual-carriageway at the Ikpoba slope.
Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Austin Uhunmwangho, the Edo State chairman of Tipping Driver Association said: “there was a Hilux blaring siren and driving one way, and that on sighting the Hilux, the tipper drivers controlling the traffic allowed the vehicle to move on because there were security operatives inside.
“After the Hilux, one other Audi car drove behind; and the drivers controlling the traffic attempted to accost it to use the right way; unknown to them that the car was also conveying plain-clothes operatives.
“And before a blink of an eye, the DSS operatives opened fire which resulted in the death of a tipper driver”, he said.
As the protesters marched towards the security operatives’ office, repeated gunshots were heard at the office.
As at press time, the operatives are yet to respond to calls over the tragic incident.
But a source at the DSS office, however, alleged that hoodlums pounced on some operatives with guns and various dangerous weapons in a bid to free arrested kidnappers in Ikpoba Slope.
According to the source, hoodlums attacked the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in a bid to free arrested kidnappers in Ikpoba Slope in Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo State.
“The hoodlums got a tip-off that the DSS operatives have arrested three of their men who are involved in kidnapping and decided to lay siege on them by the popular Tipper Garage by the Temboga Junction to free them.
“The hoodlums, upon sighting the DSS operatives, pounced on them with guns and various dangerous weapons”, he added.
He further added that “the DSS operatives sustained various degrees of injuries from the attack while their vehicles were also damaged. A female among them was attacked by the hoodlums.
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He also alleged that the hoodlums engaged the DSS operatives in a fierce gun battle but one of them succumbed to the superior powers of the security operatives resulting to his death.
The source, also alleged that three of the suspected kidnappers were eventually arrested and are cooling off in their custody.
The source said three of the suspected kidnappers were eventually arrested and are cooling off in their custody.
He assured that the operatives is poised to join hands with other sister agencies to make the state a crime-free state for all.
