Amnesty International demands probe of DSS officer over alleged killing of Abuja residents

Amnesty International has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately open an investigation into the alleged killing of two residents of the Federal Capital Territory by one of its operatives, Ajayi Abayomi, describing the incident as a grave abuse of power and a serious violation of human rights.

The incident reportedly occurred on January 19, 2026, in the Karmajiji community of Abuja, where the DSS officer allegedly opened fire on civilians.

According to Amnesty International, two residents were shot during the encounter and later died from their injuries.

The first victim, Musa Adamu, was said to have died a few hours after the shooting. The second victim, Mallam Suleiman Salisu, reportedly succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, while receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the global rights organisation described the killings as “yet another indication of reckless and unlawful use of firearms” by security personnel and urged the DSS to ensure that the officer involved is subjected to a transparent and impartial trial.

“The DSS must investigate this horrifying incident and ensure that the suspect is brought to justice through a fair trial. This gross violation of human rights must not be swept under the carpet,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation warned that repeated incidents of excessive use of force by security agents are steadily eroding public trust and fostering fear within communities.

“While security personnel are meant to protect people, some of them are increasingly unleashing terror on society, creating a toxic climate of fear and corruption. Such incidents undermine public confidence and leave communities vulnerable to wanton atrocities,” the statement added.

Amnesty International also recalled a similar case on September 7, 2023, when a DSS operative allegedly killed a fashion designer at Garki International Market, Abuja, following a dispute involving the operative’s girlfriend and her tailor over delayed clothing delivery.

According to the organisation, the operative’s girlfriend allegedly returned to the market with the armed DSS officer to confront the fashion designer, leading to the fatal shooting.

The rights group stressed that failure to hold security personnel accountable for abuses encourages impunity and called on the authorities to take decisive action to prevent a recurrence.