Renowned security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has revealed a deeply troubling case of inter-agency crossfire that ended in tragedy, as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly shot and killed a police inspector in Anambra State.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Makama disclosed that the fatal incident occurred on June 24, 2025, at approximately 5:50 p.m. along the Onitsha/Owerri Expressway, near Danaks Filling Station in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area. The victim, Inspector Bello Abdulahi, was attached to the 29 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Awka, and was carrying out a routine stop-and-search operation when the incident occurred.
According to sources cited by Makama, the patrol team had flagged down an unmarked Toyota Sienna van driving against traffic on a one-way route from a nearby bush track. The unusual movement of the vehicle raised immediate suspicion among the officers, prompting them to initiate a search.
However, the situation took a fatal turn when the vehicle’s occupants—dressed in black tactical gear and reportedly wielding assault rifles—refused to identify themselves or comply with police directives. What followed was a chaotic exchange, during which the occupants suddenly opened fire on the officers, striking Inspector Abdulahi in the lower rib.
Despite being rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala and later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, the brave officer was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has since been deposited in the hospital’s morgue for autopsy and further examination.
In a shocking twist, the shooters were later identified as DSS operatives attached to the Ihiala Local Government Secretariat. Rather than remaining at the scene, the operatives fled immediately after the shooting, further complicating the situation.
The Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Awka has reportedly been informed of the incident, and an internal investigation is now underway to unravel the full circumstances that led to this tragic case of mistaken identity.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the security community, igniting urgent calls for better communication and coordination among Nigeria’s security agencies. Analysts warn that without seamless inter-agency protocols and clearly defined operational boundaries, similar tragedies are bound to reoccur.
As the nation mourns the loss of Inspector Bello Abdulahi, his death serves as a painful reminder of the dangers faced by security operatives—and the dire consequences of fractured collaboration among the forces tasked with protecting lives and property.
PIONEER NEWS 