Amnesty International has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of two men by one of its personnel in Karmajiji, a community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the incident as a grave abuse of power and a violation of human rights.
In a statement issued on its official Facebook page on Thursday, January 29, 2026, the rights group condemned the January 19, 2026, shooting, which it labeled an “extrajudicial execution” involving reckless and unlawful use of firearms.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) must investigate the extrajudicial execution of two persons by its personnel Ajayi Abayomi. The incident which occurred on 19 January 2026 at Karmajiji community of the Federal Capital Territory is yet another indication of reckless and unlawful use of firearms and abuse of power,” Amnesty International stated.
The organisation reported that the first victim, Musa Adamu, succumbed to his injuries a few hours after the shooting, while the second, Mallam Suleiman Salisu, died on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, where he had been receiving treatment.
Amnesty insisted that the DSS must hold those responsible accountable, “The DSS must investigate this horrifying incident and ensure that the suspect is brought to justice through fair trial. This gross violation of human rights must not be swept under the carpet.”
The group warned that such misconduct by security operatives erodes public trust and fosters a dangerous environment: “While security personnel are supposed to protect people, gradually some of them are unleashing terror on the society creating a toxic climate of fear and corruption.” It added that these actions “undermine trust and leave people vulnerable to wanton atrocities.”
Amnesty also raised broader concerns about the involvement of security forces in non-criminal disputes, “Amnesty International [is] deeply concerned that in addition to their stated remit of ensuring law and order, some security personnel investigate civil matters and in some cases tortures suspects involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes.”
The call for investigation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of security agencies’ conduct in Nigeria, with Amnesty emphasizing the need for impartial probes and fair trials to restore confidence in law enforcement. No official response from the DSS had been reported as of the publication of this article.
