Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to urgently investigate the alleged extrajudicial killing of two men by one of its personnel, Ajayi Abayomi, describing the incident as a grave violation of human rights.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook account, Amnesty International said the incident occurred on January 19, 2026, in the Karmajiji community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the organisation, the first victim, Musa Adamu, died a few hours after the incident, while the second victim, Mallam Suleiman Salisu, died on Wednesday, January 28 at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, where he had been receiving treatment.
Amnesty International described the killings as “yet another indication of reckless and unlawful use of firearms and abuse of power by security personnel,” stressing that the DSS must ensure a thorough and impartial investigation and that the suspect is brought to justice through a fair and transparent trial.
“This gross violation of human rights must not be swept under the carpet,” the organisation stated.
The rights group expressed concern that while security agencies are mandated to protect lives and property, some operatives are increasingly instilling fear in communities through unlawful actions, thereby undermining public trust and leaving citizens vulnerable to abuse.
Amnesty International also recalled a similar incident on September 7, 2023, when a DSS operative reportedly killed a fashion designer at Garki International Market, Abuja, during an altercation linked to a dispute involving the operative’s girlfriend and her tailor.
According to Amnesty, the operative allegedly arrived at the market with a loaded firearm because the fashion designer failed to sew clothes on time.
The organisation further warned that it is deeply concerned about a growing pattern in which some security personnel allegedly intervene in civil matters, including contractual and business disputes, and, in some cases, subject suspects to torture, even when the issues involved are non-criminal in nature.
Amnesty International Nigeria urged the authorities to take decisive action to end impunity, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that security agencies operate strictly within their legal mandates while respecting human rights.
