JUST-IN: DSS operative killed, two injured as armed men attack Imo security base

At least one operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been killed, while two others sustained serious injuries following a violent overnight attack on a security base in Abacheke community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

The assault, which reportedly occurred between Friday night and the early hours of Saturday, was allegedly carried out by heavily armed hoodlums suspected to be linked to an oil bunkering cartel operating in the area.

Sources said the attackers stormed a forward operational base manned by DSS operatives, triggering a fierce gun battle that left casualties on both sides.

A security source confirmed that one DSS operative died during the exchange of fire, while two others were critically injured.

“It happened in the early hours of Saturday. The forward operational base of the DSS was attacked by armed men suspected to be bandits. The operatives engaged them in a gun duel,” the source said.

“In the process, one personnel was killed and two others sustained injuries.”

The source further alleged that civilians may also have been affected, with reports suggesting that several people were killed during the attack, although the exact number remains unconfirmed.

Local accounts indicated that the attackers may have also set houses ablaze, forcing residents to flee the community in panic.

Some sources claimed the attack may be connected to disputes within illegal oil bunkering networks operating in the oil-rich area, though these claims remain unverified.

Residents said Abacheke and surrounding communities in Ohaji/Egbema have long been affected by criminal activities linked to crude oil theft, with repeated clashes between security forces and suspected syndicates.

A resident who spoke anonymously alleged that the violence may be tied to disagreements over illegal oil dealings and enforcement actions by security agencies, but authorities have not confirmed this angle.

The attack has since heightened tension in the area, with many residents reportedly abandoning their homes for fear of reprisal.

Businesses were also shut on Saturday as security operatives intensified patrols and surveillance across the community.

As of press time, neither the DSS nor the Imo State Police Command had issued an official statement on the incident.

The attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of the Niger Delta, where illegal oil bunkering continues to fuel violent clashes involving armed groups and security agencies.

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