January 28, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Two people were killed and one injured after an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly opened fire in a residential area of Abuja on Wednesday night.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, in the Gwarimpa Phase 3 neighbourhood of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after a DSS operative reportedly discharged a firearm during a confrontation in the area.
Residents said the shots rang out unexpectedly, causing panic among households and drawing neighbours into the street. Two men whose identities have not been officially released — were struck and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, while another person sustained a gunshot injury and was receiving treatment.
One eyewitness, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told SaharaReporters that the DSS operative was “arguing with people in the street” before the shooting began, but offered no additional details about the cause of the dispute.
As of publication, there has been no official statement from the DSS regarding the incident, the circumstances that led to the shots being fired, or whether the operative involved has been detained or suspended. Local police officers at the scene declined to comment when approached by journalists.
Neighbours said emergency responders arrived shortly after the shooting, and that traffic was restricted in parts of Gwarimpa Phase 3 as security personnel cordoned off the area.
Community leaders in the neighbourhood have called for an independent investigation into the killing of the two residents and the injury of a third, urging authorities to release details about what prompted the shooting and to ensure accountability.