Gunman shoots Abuja Uber driver, victim hospitalised

An Uber driver, whose name is yet to be known, has been hospitalised following an attack by a gunman in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory at about 10pm on Monday, according to a police report.

Police sources told our correspondent on Tuesday that an argument had ensued on Monday night between the Uber driver and the gunman, who escaped after the attack at Gimbiya street, Garki.

Findings by our correspondent showed that Gimbiya Street is one of the busiest areas of the FCT, with a high influx of people at nightlife.

A resident, on Tuesday, told our correspondent that people were having fun on Monday night when they overheard the two men having an argument, before the shooting minutes later.

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The source said, “We were all shocked following the shooting. As you know, nightlife is a usual thing here and you’d often find people arguing over spaces or bumping into each other, but most of the time, the arguments ends with both parties going their own way and everyone laughing it off.

“However, people were surprised after hearing the gunshot following the argument by the Uber driver and the gunman. In fact, no one knew that he had a gun with him. They said the driver had been taken to the hospital, we hope he survives it.”

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has denied reports making the rounds that the Garki gunman attack was an armed robbery incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh said, “The news in circulation that armed robbers killed an Uber driver in the Garki area of the FCT has been stripped of basic facts. Hence, the need to disabuse the minds of residents who may have come across the misleading information.

“Preliminary investigation by the police have it that, on Monday, January 16, at about 10pm, an altercation ensued between an Uber driver and another whose name is yet to be known, over a parking space along Gimbiya Street, Garki.

“The altercation snowballed into physical violence which resulted in the armed man shooting the latter (Uber Driver), and taking to his heels.

“Upon receipt of the information of the unfortunate incident, operatives from the Garki Police Division drifted to the scene and rescued the injured Uber driver to the nearest hospital where he is currently recuperating.”

Adeh further noted that the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Sadiq Abubakar, has directed discrete investigation and an aggressive manhunt to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspect.

She added, “The CP has equally directed the deployment of intelligent assets of the Command to the area with a mandate to strengthen its security architecture.

“Members of the public are enjoined to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension from any quarters bearing in mind that the police are on top of the situation and will make the FCT unbearable for criminal elements and their enterprises.”