Man killed in Lagos petrol line shooting Amid Chaos
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Toheeb Eniasa, a young man, was shot at a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited gas station in Obalende, Lagos State, near Ikoyi. His family has been thrown into mourning.
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The incident occurred late on Wednesday and has caused dread among the local population.
According to residents contacted by our journalist who is already on the site, Eniasa was waiting in line to acquire gas when the tragedy occurred.
Two individuals in the queue, who appeared to be military personnel, tried to drive into the station to buy gasoline even though they weren’t in line to receive the item.
Eniasa led the arguments, by urging the guys to line up like everyone else, according to multiple eyewitnesses.
This escalated into a fistfight, which resulted in the young man’s death after one of the men shot him and ran away.
In recent days, it has been difficult for Nigerians to purchase fuel.
Transport costs have gone up as a result of the shortage, and there are now longer lines at the product’s numerous filling stations.
According to Mr. Amos Ayo, claim he saw the incident and that they were Department of State Services officers as branded on their polo shirts.
Ayo also narrated, “I saw them. They are men of the DSS. They came to the scene to buy fuel but refused to join the queue.
“That is what they always do. It was not Toheeb’s turn yet but he confronted them, asking them to join the queue or be polite about the way they went about the purchase.
“One of them was so impatient. He slapped Toheeb and he retaliated with more words. Before we could know it, we heard gunshots and Toheeb fell to the ground.”
According to a woman who refused to disclose her name for security purposes said she was clearing up her alcoholic bitters stand close to the station when she heard the gunshot at about 9.30 p.m. and fled the scene.
She said, “I did not even wait to see what was happening. I ran as fast as I could before any stray bullet will hit me. But, I heard from the people who were there that it was two soldiers.
“They are not policemen. One shot the young man and ran away. I learnt they caught one but he still managed to escape eventually.”
The incident was confirmed by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the public relations officer for the state police.
He stated that two cars were set on fire and that a young man named Toheeb Eniasa died. However, he stated that investigations were still ongoing and that the shooters’ identities had not yet been determined.
He said, “I can confirm that somebody was shot dead. I can confirm that the body has been deposited in the morgue.
“Two vehicles were burnt. The identity of the shooter is still unknown but investigations are ongoing to unravel that. The deceased’s name is Toheeb Eniasa.”
In response to the event, DSS spokesman Peter Afunnaya denied that any of its officials were involved in the scandal in a text message.
He said, “It is not true (that a DSS officer shot Toheeb). Kindly deepen your investigations to uncover the truth. No single DSS staff was involved in the matter.”
