A senior officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Onoja Samuel allegedly stormed a market in Kubwa, Abuja, with a pistol and fired several shots into the air following reports that traders had assaulted his wife.
The officer, a Deputy Superintendent of the corps, was arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command after the incident triggered a security scare at the market.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when the officer reportedly went to confront the traders over the alleged assault on his wife.
According to the police, the confrontation escalated into gunfire, with Onoja Samuel allegedly discharging several rounds into the air during an argument with the traders.
The FCT Police Command said it received a distress call at about 1:50 p.m. reporting that an armed man was shooting at a market in Kubwa.
Police operatives attached to the Kubwa Division were immediately deployed to the scene, where they disarmed and arrested the suspect.
The command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said preliminary investigations identified the arrested man as an NSCDC deputy superintendent.
A CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition were reportedly recovered from him.
The police said the officer’s visit to the market was linked to allegations that some traders had assaulted his wife, although the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault were not fully detailed in the statement.
Samuel remained in police custody as of the announcement, with the command indicating that he would be charged in court after investigations were concluded.
The incident has also drawn attention to the need for security personnel to exercise restraint when handling disputes and avoid actions that could endanger members of the public.
Reacting to the development, FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi urged personnel of sister security agencies to notify the police divisions responsible for their areas before conducting authorised operations within the territory.
He said proper coordination among security agencies was necessary to prevent avoidable confrontations and ensure public safety.
The police did not disclose whether any trader was injured during the incident or whether the alleged assault on the officer’s wife had been formally reported and investigated.
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