Tragedy on Anambra Highway: Fatal Misfire on Onitsha-Owerri Expressway Claims Life of Police Inspector During DSS Clash

 

Tension rippled through Anambra State on June 24 as a police inspector lost his life in what appears to be a tragic incident of mistaken identity involving operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The fatal event unfolded around 5:50 p.m. along the busy Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, specifically near Danaks Filling Station in Uli, located in the Ihiala Local Government Area.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and abrupt. A team of mobile police officers from the 29 Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Awka was conducting a highway patrol when they encountered a Toyota Sienna vehicle emerging from a side road and driving against the traffic flow. The vehicle, which bore no official markings, was flagged down for a routine check due to its suspicious movements.

The officers noticed that the individuals inside the vehicle were dressed in black and heavily armed with assault rifles. Attempts to initiate a stop-and-search protocol were ignored by the vehicle’s occupants. According to multiple sources present during the incident, a tense exchange escalated into violence within seconds. The occupants of the Sienna reportedly opened fire on the police team without warning.

Inspector Bello Abdulahi, who was among the officers responding to the situation, sustained a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen during the exchange. The other officers quickly moved him to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala for emergency care. Medical personnel at the facility later referred him to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi for advanced treatment. Sadly, he was declared dead on arrival at the teaching hospital, and his remains were deposited at the hospital morgue.

Further developments in the hours following the shooting brought to light a shocking revelation. The individuals inside the unmarked Toyota Sienna were not armed criminals or unknown assailants as initially feared; they were DSS operatives reportedly attached to the Ihiala Local Government Secretariat. Sources said the operatives fled the scene immediately after the confrontation, failing to identify themselves or render assistance to the fatally injured officer.

News of the incident reached the DSS command in Awka, and an official inquiry has been launched to investigate the circumstances that led to this fatal misfire. Security analysts and concerned citizens have called for transparency in the handling of the case, emphasizing the urgency of a clear chain of accountability when inter-agency operations result in loss of life.

Calls for reforms in inter-agency coordination have grown louder in the wake of the tragedy. Community leaders and security stakeholders argue that poor communication between Nigeria's security agencies has too often led to deadly misunderstandings. The lack of vehicle identification and the failure to announce or confirm identity at the scene has been criticized as a major factor that could have prevented the confrontation altogether.

Inspector Abdulahi's death has added to the growing list of casualties from avoidable security mishaps. Fellow officers at the 29 PMF have expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing Abdulahi as a disciplined and committed member of the force. Many lamented that such a tragedy could have been avoided if existing protocols on inter-agency communication were respected and consistently applied.

Meanwhile, residents of Uli and the surrounding areas remain in shock, with many expressing concern about the safety of both citizens and law enforcement personnel. The accidental shooting of a uniformed officer by another security agency has left many questioning the level of professionalism within the country’s internal security network.

While the DSS is yet to release a detailed statement, officials close to the investigation say disciplinary action may be taken, depending on the outcome of the inquiry. The Nigeria Police Force has also indicated it will pursue justice for the late officer.

As investigations proceed, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of fragmented operations among Nigeria's security agencies. The tragic loss of Inspector Bello Abdulahi, a man simply carrying out his duty, underscores the urgent need for improved coordination, proper identification protocols, and mutual respect across all security formations in the country.