Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has suspended one of its officers, Deputy Superintendent of Corps Onoja Babayo Samuel, over an alleged shooting incident during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.

The corps has also ordered an Orderly Room Trial to determine the officer’s level of responsibility in the incident, which reportedly occurred on October 25, 2026.

Samuel’s suspension followed his arrest by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command over allegations that he fired shots into the air during a dispute with traders at the market.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, the NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the alleged conduct amounted to a serious violation of the corps’ rules of engagement and standard operating procedures, particularly those governing the use of firearms.

The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, reportedly directed the officer’s immediate suspension and the commencement of disciplinary proceedings to establish his culpability.

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The corps said Samuel had been stripped of his official responsibilities and relieved of his assignment pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process.

A committee at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja will oversee the proceedings, while the corps has promised to make the outcome of the internal investigation and disciplinary trial public when concluded.

The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to professional conduct, accountability and public safety, stressing that it would not protect any officer found responsible for actions that endanger lives or violate established operational guidelines.

How the Abuja Market Shooting Happened

The FCT Police Command had earlier confirmed Samuel’s arrest following a distress call reporting that an armed man was firing shots into the air at Kubwa Market.

According to the police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, preliminary investigations indicated that the officer had gone to the market with a pistol after receiving reports that some traders had assaulted his wife.

Police operatives attached to the Kubwa Division responded to the report, disarmed the suspect and arrested him at the scene.

The police also reported recovering a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the officer.

The police said investigations would be concluded before the officer was charged in court.

Following the incident, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the territory to exercise restraint and notify the relevant police divisions before carrying out authorised operations.

He said better coordination among security agencies was necessary to prevent avoidable confrontations and improve public safety.

The NSCDC’s disciplinary proceedings and the police investigation are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine any further action.

The suspension is an administrative measure and does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt. The allegations against the officer remain subject to investigation and the relevant disciplinary and legal processes.