Department of State Security Services, DSS operative temporarily taken into captivity by officials Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency office on Friday in Benin City, Edo State.
Investigation revealed that tempers flared after some DSS operatives lost their cool and fired gunshots brazenly in an attempt to release a traffic offender’s vehicle, kept in custody of agency on Sapele road, amid resistance by angry traffic officials.
Chaos erupted after a commuter, accused of by traffic officials of violating traffic rules on the road, was arrested by EDSTMA officials who immediately towed his vehicle whose number plate could not be verified immediately, to the office Sapele road, for further interrogation.
Dependable security sources informed TheNewspad reporter that the alleged offender, contacted a DSS operative believed to be his friend, who thereafter mobilized his gun-totting fierce looking colleagues to the EDSTMA office.
It was also learnt that upon their arrival, a heated argument ensued between EDSTMA and armed men of the secret service who was said to have ordered the release of the seized vehicle.
The disagreement, resulted in a sporadic gunfire by DSS operatives, upon sensing danger, before the victim was let-off the hook by EDSTMA after the gate was shut, leaving behind the impounded vehicle.
A senior staff of traffic agency who told our reporter that their men refused to bulge, decried the high level of lawless and unprofessional conduct exhibited by DSS operatives, while thanking God because no life was lost during the violent scuffle.
“Thank God that EDSTMA officials are not allowed to bear arms. If they do, there wouldn’t have been casualties today in our office.
“How can DSS operatives start to shoot from Zenith Bank area on Sapele road in Benin City down to our office without a reply?
“Because a vehicle that committed traffic offence was impounded? Rather than dialogue, they chose to use force’, he stressed that a high level discussion between the leadership of EDSTMA and DSS to find resolve the deadlock has begun.
TheNewspad reports that the conduct that sent jitters down the spines of commuters, pedestrians and other road users, as traffic on Sapele road and other arterial roads in the area, convulsed for hours.
Effort to reach out to the DSS authorities and the Edo State Traffic Management Agency for comments, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
