Soldier kills fuel attendant in Niger

A military officer has allegedly killed a fuel attendant at AY Ashafa filing station around the Obasanjo Shopping Complex in Minna, the Niger State capital.

It was gathered that the fuel attendant was killed on Monday after he was involved in a fracas between the military officer and the manager of the filling station.

Some military officers in a Hilux vehicle were said to have driven into the filling station along the Minna-Bosdo Road to buy fuel when an argument broke out between the leader of the security personnel and the manager of the station.

An eyewitness disclosed that one of the military officers slapped the manager, prompting the attendant, who was said to be a brother to him, to defend the manager as he quickly left the filling station and returned with a cutlass and a dagger.

It was gathered that the attendant, after his return to the filling station, stabbed the leader of the military personnel on his hand before one of the officers shot him (the attendant).

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It was learnt that the attendant was rushed to Minna General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The eyewitness further disclosed that after the attendant was shot, the military personnel left the filling station and later returned with more officers.

“Upon their return in two Hilux vehicles, the people that have gathered at the scene have all left. So, they had to also leave the area,” the source added.

When contacted, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying an investigation has commenced.

Abiodun stated that policemen were deployed to the area, saying normalcy has returned.

Efforts to reach the manager of the filling station for comment proved abortive as calls made to his telephone line were unanswered.

The Star