Cold War Brews Between Police, DSS Over Inspector’s Death in Ihiala

Tensions are running high between the Anambra State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) following the fatal shooting of a police officer during a stop-and-search operation in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway near the Danaks filling station, involved a confrontation between police officers and DSS operatives that has since sparked a cold war between the two security agencies.

The deceased officer, Inspector Bello Abdullah of the 29 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Awka, was part of a routine patrol team that intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle allegedly driving against traffic. Unbeknownst to the officers, the vehicle was occupied by DSS personnel. When the police flagged it down for a search, the DSS operatives reportedly resisted, leading to a heated altercation during which Inspector Abdullah was fatally shot.

Despite efforts to save him, Abdullah was confirmed dead on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. While the Anambra Police Command has publicly described the incident as a mistake, internal sources suggest that many officers remain angry and are demanding justice. Meanwhile, DSS insiders are also expressing frustration, calling the stop-and-search action a provocation and accusing the police of acting with unwarranted aggression.

Anambra Police spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, said that both agencies have since resolved the matter amicably. He confirmed that the operatives involved were dressed in black and arrived in an unmarked vehicle, which raised suspicion among the police team and led to the tragic confrontation. The case has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for further investigation.

However, not all voices within the security agencies are calling for calm. A senior police officer described the shooting as an “affront” that cannot be swept under the rug, while a senior DSS source said their agency was ready for any outcome, accusing some police officers of acting like “untrained people.” The DSS source added that they had shown restraint only out of respect for the current Police Commissioner, Ikioye Orutugu, whom they described as “a nice person.”