Tragedy struck at a petrol station owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos State, as a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, was shot dead amidst a tumultuous fuel queue.
The incident occurred late Wednesday, plunging Eniafe’s family into mourning and instilling fear among residents in the area.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, the altercation ensued when two individuals, suspected to be military officers, attempted to bypass the queue at the petrol station. Eniafe, along with others in the queue, confronted the officers, insisting they join the line like everyone else.
The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, culminating in one of the officers fatally shooting Eniafe before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and panic as the gunshot rang out, prompting people to flee for safety.
Residents familiar with the incident claimed that the officers involved were from the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that they had a history of disregarding queue protocols during fuel purchases.
However, the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunnaya, denied the involvement of any DSS personnel in the incident, urging further investigation to uncover the truth.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the tragic incident, stating that Eniafe’s body had been deposited in the morgue while investigations into the shooting were ongoing.
Efforts to reach the branch manager of the petrol station for comment were unsuccessful, as staff members stated that he was unavailable.
The incident has left the community in shock and raised concerns about the safety and orderly conduct at petrol stations amidst fuel scarcity in the area.
