The family of a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, has been thrown into mourning after he was shot at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The incident, our correspondent learnt, happened late Wednesday and has left residents in the area in fear.

Our correspondent, who is currently at the scene of the incident gathered from residents that Eniafe was in the queue to get petrol when the incident happened.

While in the queue, two men, believed to be military officers, attempted to drive into the station to buy petrol even though they were not in the queue to get the product.

This, our correspondent learnt, was met with stiff resistance from people in the queue; many of whom had been waiting for hours.

Several eyewitnesses confirmed that Eniafe spearheaded the argument, telling the men to join the queue like everyone else.

This further degenerated into a fisticuff and the eventual death of the young man after one of the men shot him and fled the scene.

Nigerians have been struggling to buy fuel in the last few days.

The scarcity has led to an increase in transport fares and queues at various filling stations selling the product.

A resident, who gave his name as Mr. Amos Ayo, who said he witnessed the incident, alleged that the officers were from the Department of State Services as they had their branded polo shirts.

Ayo 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.”

A woman who said she was clearing up her alcoholic bitters stand close to the station but refused to give her name for security reasons, told our correspondent that 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.”

Also speaking, a young man who gave his name as Capo told PUNCH Online that he knew the deceased.

“This place (Obalende) is a very small place. Everybody knows everybody. Toheeb stays in the Dolphin Estate area. He is a Muslim. He is supposed to be buried today but his body has been taken by the police to the morgue for investigation and possibly autopsy,” he said.

Asked whether he was at the scene of the crime, Capo said, “Of course, I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. We were the ones who pursued the men that did the crime but one of them shot his gun in the air and people ran away. That was the way he could escape.

“One hid under a bus so we set it on fire. He also ran away. We initially thought they were policemen but they are not. I can tell you that for free. Just imagine how they have taken the life of that young man now for nothing.”

Another young man who spoke on condition of anonymity because of his safety also said he was at the scene.

“I was at Obalende. I was coming back from work. I can tell you that the shooter is not a policeman but a DSS officer who came to buy fuel but was stopped by Toheeb and his friends.

“They told him that he must join the queue. The man, from what I learnt, told them that the manager was aware of his coming but Toheeb and some other men refused him entry.

“Some guys in the area broke a bottle and were about to attack the officer during the argument and that was when the shots were fired, and they ran away,” he said.

The man added, “They burnt two vehicles yesterday. I was so scared as I walked home that night because there were no buses. Everyone was scared. Even the long queue dispersed and the station was closed.”

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the branch manager of the station to speak were abortive, as his staff members said he was not around and that no one was authorised to speak on his behalf.

However, a young staff, whom our correspondent convinced to speak, said military officers, veterans and the aged were given preferential treatment during fuel purchases.

“Whenever there is a scarcity like this, we prioritise military men and the like. That is one thing Nigerians need to know. Our manager was aware they were coming and told us to open the gate for them but the people in the queue were just not cooperative,” he said.

Police confirm shooting

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, was killed and two vehicles burnt. He, however, said the identity of the shooters was not yet ascertained as investigations were ongoing.

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 Eniafe.”

Reacting to the incident via a text message, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunnaya, denied any of its officers was part of the imbroglio.

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.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/fuel-scarcity-man-shot-dead-during-fuel-queue-tumult-in-lagos/%3famp

useless law enforcement officers

okoo

Na tinubu cause this one walahi!

After struggling with removal of fuel subsidy,
Increase in food prices,
High cost of living,
Increase in electricity tariff,
Fuel scarcity,
Which one did I leave out, then they will now kill the person because he went to buy fuel.
Chaii, this country na wa

Untill there's bl00dshed in any crisis which the nation is passing through, the dealers called leaders won't find solution.

It will favour me gang.... How far

I'm sure he rooted for tinubu and and was one of those bigot telling igbos to go home , anyways rip to him

Shot dead ke?...seriously what's wrong with our police, military n infact all security personnel....as soon as they have guns, they think they are above everyone.....

Nawa ooo
Everything na struggle for this yeye country

SojWORLDWIDE:


https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/fuel-scarcity-man-shot-dead-during-fuel-queue-tumult-in-lagos/%3famp

maturity is when u learn how to avoid unnecessary fights.

A zoo corntree

Those officers but be punish publicly and given death by hanging judgement anything less is a blood on this nation

Very sad indeed. Those entrusted with law and order were the ones to not only flagrantly disobey it but ironically took the life of a citizen who stood up for justice. So what's the fabric of society made of.. oppression?
Just to think of how many Nigerians have had their futures blighted by this singular act. This country dey tire person sef.

May His soul rest in perfect peace.

100 avoidable ways to die in this APC regime 😭

A nation where human life is worthless.

Chai, I have always known that Nigeria police are very useless, that one na normal thin....in as much that security personnel works with emergency, that does not give him the right to gun down a mere civilian...

The police man must be duly prosecuted with all ambit of the law, I don't like what I hate 😡

Zoo nation

An avoidable tragedy.......Nigga just lost his life over nothing..

What a pity!!

Legacy of apc. Death everywhere

Stampede killed some people because of hunger now army shot young man because of fuel scarcity. It's like Nigerians are just dying like chicken for unnecessary and avoidable deaths. Who caused all these...

Uu

Sometimes no dey do pass your self.

My wife will always say "Avoid poeple holding guns; you will be gone before you know it".

No middle or low class Nigerian has a right. No this and know peace.

Can you imagine? He must have voted this government

Black Africa is a jungle. Your rights don’t matter here. Law enforcement officials actually join the forces to oppress their fellow citizens. Don’t argue with these people. Walk away.

Some of these law enforcement officers are hypocrites!

They should all be fished out to answer for their crime against the young man they killed!

I pray for strength upon the family of the deceased young man!

The suffering continues.... Maybe he shouted Ronu, expecting them sell to him cheaper than they sell to Igbos...