A reported brawl between operatives of Department of State Service (DSS) and some members Tippers Drivers Association in Edo State has left a Tipping truck driver dead.

The incident was said to have occurred on Ikpoba-slope road by the tipping trucks garage on Tuesday in Benin City, the State Capital.

The deceased driver whose identity is yet-to-be known was allegedly hit by a stay bullet from the security personnel, according to reports.

The victim was said to be in the company of colleagues who had volunteered to control the early morning traffic on the busy road.

A preliminary investigation said trouble started when some vehicles conveying DSS operatives drove against traffic in a bid to avoid traffic jam on the other lane of the dual-carriage way.

A source simply identified as Osaghae said: “There was an Hilux van blarring siren and driving one way… On sighting the Hilux van the tipper drivers controlling the traffic allowed the vehicle to move on because there were security operatives inside the vehicle.

“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 security operatives.

“And before a blink of eye, the DSS operatives opened fire which resulted in the death of a tipper driver.

“They (DSS) thereafter arrested three traffic control volunteers and also took the body of the deceased driver away.”

The development caused heavy gridlock in the Benin metropolis as other drivers protested the death of their colleague.

Gunshots were repeatedly heard at the DSS office in Benin City as the protesting drivers marched towards the facility.

The DSS operatives are yet to respond to inquiry over the tragedy.

An official of DSS 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, “One of the hoodlums succumbed to the superior power of the DSS which resulted to his death”.

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