Tipper drivers protest alleged shooting of 3 members by DSS operatives in Benin

By ADIBE EMENYONU, Benin city

Edo State capital, Benin-city, was yesterday thrown into confusion as tipper drivers in their number blocked major roads in the city, protesting the alleged killing of three of their members by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS)

The DSS operatives said to be in two cars drove against traffic close to the Tipper Garage on Ikpoba Slope because an articulated vehicle blocked the way.

While the tipper drivers were trying to regulate the traffic, unknown to them, the second vehicle (Audi) was also occupied by the operatives.

According to one of the protesting drivers, Joseph Osaretin, “When our divers identified the first vehicle as one occupied by the operatives, they allowed them to go, and asked the unmarked Audi to go back, this made the operatives to get angry, and on getting down, they unleashed terror on the drivers and shot one dead on the spot.

“When the drivers saw that one of their own was down they let lose, which made the operatives to kill two other persons and injured scores of them.”

The killings, as gathered, made the drivers to regroup with placards and use their tippers to block major roads in the city.

They took some their tipper lorries to the DSS office, blocking the entrance where the state Police Command and other security agencies are situated in Benin-city.

Calming the situation, Major S. A. Abudulahi of the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army pleaded with the angry drivers to calm down, promising that the government and other security agencies will sort the matter out. (THISDAY)