DSS Officer Allegedly Stabs Caretaker in Osun Amid Electricity Bill Dispute

An unsettling incident unfolded in the Tinumola area of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, as tensions escalated over an unpaid electricity bill. A tenant, reported to be an officer of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS), allegedly stabbed the caretaker, Omosola Oladele, after a heated argument regarding the settlement of an outstanding electricity bill.

The episode unraveled on Tuesday night, when concerned neighbors brought to the attention of the caretaker the purported lackadaisical approach of the DSS officer, identified as Tifase, towards meeting his financial obligations within the household.

According to eyewitnesses who shared their accounts with the Nigerian Tribune, the situation escalated when the DSS officer was confronted by the caretaker regarding the unpaid electricity bill. In a shocking turn of events, the DSS officer reportedly used a dagger to stab the caretaker.

Recuperating in a hospital bed, the 60-year-old caretaker, Oladele, recounted to Nigerian Tribune, “One of the tenants of the multi-story building informed me that the power supply company had disconnected the electricity due to unpaid bills. She noted that only two individuals, including Tifase, had not yet settled their bills.”

Oladele continued, “Despite the potential disconnection, he callously remarked that they should proceed with cutting the power. A witness advised him to apologize for his utterance, but he instead retreated indoors and reemerged with a dagger, which he then used to stab me.”

A bystander, Comrade Morounkola Tosin, offered insight into the origins of the conflict, revealing that the issue arose on August 16 when occupants of the building were expected to settle their electricity bills. “Although some individuals had offered to cover the costs, what ensued was a demand for a reimbursement before he resorted to violence,” stated Tosin.

Following the incident, Oladele was promptly rushed to a medical facility for treatment, while Tosin took the initiative to report the matter to the Dada Estate Police Station. Surprisingly, Tosin encountered DSS operatives who indicated that they were unwilling to transfer custody of Tifase to the police, citing his status as their colleague.

Osun State Commissioner for Police, Kehinde Longe, acknowledged the incident when reached for comment by a Nigerian Tribune reporter. Longe, however, disclosed that he had yet to receive a comprehensive briefing regarding the situation at the time of the conversation.