On Thursday night, officers from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command dispersed a violent demonstration that arose following the reported assassination of a fashion designer by Department of State Services personnel who shot irregularly and injured numerous others.

According to one of our sources, a customer took the police to the deceased's shop after he reportedly failed to provide certain garments on an agreed-upon date.

According to a market trader who did not want her name printed for fear of being victimized, some of the fashion designer's colleagues who learned about the situation interfered, but their intervention did not go down well with the DSS employees.

She noted that the personnel was arrested and detained by the police after he allegedly shot and killed the fashion designer.

"The DSS was brought by a female customer of the fashion designer." She claimed that her clothing were not sewn by the fashion designer. Her coworkers joined her in defending her. The topic sparked a heated debate.

"After hearing a gunshot, we learned that the fashion designer had been killed and another had been injured." The DSS agents were apprehended and detained at the Wuse Market Police Station. "That's where all of our people are right now," the trader explained.

Responding to the development in a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said, “In an incident at Garki International Market on September 7, 2023, an altercation arose between market occupants and certain individuals, including a DSS personnel and a tailor named Muhammad Habibu. The Garki Divisional Police station mobilized officers in response to a received 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. In response, the police intervened to rescue the individuals and protect public safety. During the incident, there was damage to a section of the Police outpost as some of the irate youths acted in a disorderly manner. It is important to note that some weapons used in the commotion have been recovered, and normalcy has now been restored.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Haruna Garba, emphasizes the commitment to maintaining peace and respecting the rights of all citizens within the FCT. He encourages market occupants to also refrain from engaging in mischief involving public property, especially that which belongs to the security agencies in place to safeguard their well-being. Additionally, he urges the public to utilize the police emergency lines 08061581938,07057337653, 08028940883, for assistance when needed.”

However, in a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, said the secret police was investigating the matter.

“The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to an incident that occurred a few hours ago between its staff and a mob at the Garki Market, Abuja. 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.

“Consequently, the Service has commenced an investigation into the matter. The public is assured that details of the inquiries will be communicated as soon as possible. The Service assures that it will not hesitate to mete out a proper disciplinary measure(s) to its staff if found culpable or running foul of Standard Operating Procedures on dealing with a member of the public.”