The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reacted to the ugly incident that occurred yesterday where one of his security aides killed a newspaper vendor in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The vendor was shot by Gbajabiamila’s security aide on Thursday evening.
Newsflash247 gathered that newspaper vendors upon sighting the Speaker’s convoy gathered to hail him but the overzealous security detail opened fire on them, killing Okereke in the process.
The victim was rushed to the National Hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Newsflash247 gathered that Okereke died at the National Hospital shortly after the incident, adding that his wife gave birth to a baby on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila confirmed this on his Facebook page and series of Tweets on his official handle.
According to him, the vendor was hit by a stray bullet meant to disperse a crowd when he went to greet newspaper vendors while leaving the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila said that some hours after they got to their destination, he was informed that someone had the victim simply identified as Ifeanyi had been hit by a stray bullet.
Contrary to the report, Mr Gbajabiamila said, “shots were fired into the air when some unidentified men obstructed his convoy”. He said the victim was hit by a stray bullet.
He said “A horrible incident has taken place. This evening as I left the national assembly, I stopped, as usual, to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner.
“Many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.
“Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.
“Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.
“I have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced.
“In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“My value for human life and my respect for all people – irrespective of social economic status – is what endeared me to these vendors and these are the reasons why I stop my convoy quite often to connect with them.
“For one of them to have been shot by my security detail is horrific and I cannot begin to imagine the grief and loss Ifeanyi’s family must feel on this sad day. No family should have to go through this.
“I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors,” the Speaker said.
The Shehu Shagari Way, which is adjacent to the National Assembly entrance, is a known spot for newspaper vendors.
Most of the vendors receive various gifts from lawmakers and other dignitaries who stop by the traffic light.
Newsflash247 had reported how the sullied reputation of the Nigeria Police Force suffered more blows after youth across the country, weeks ago, took to the streets in protest against police brutality, particularly the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The case of the newspaper vendor is one out of the many extrajudicial killings carried out by the police.
The SARS had long been accused of unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings.
The protests, which initially started peacefully, turned violent, after a government clampdown with hoodlums taking advantage of the situation.
Dozens of people, including peaceful protesters and police officers, have been killed while public and private facilities were attacked.
Arguably, the worst of such incidents was the attack on protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos when soldiers shot at peaceful protesters, who gathered there. At least two people were killed in the Lekki incident.
Though the government had made some concessions, including announcing the dissolution of the notorious SARS unit and the constitution of judicial panels by a number of states to investigate police abuses, the protests had continued with the protesters widening their demands to include calls for reforms across the country’s entire police system.
At least 56 people died during the #EndSARS protests, the human rights group, Amnesty International, said. The government has downplayed the killing of peaceful protesters including a CNN report which detailed the atrocities of the Nigerian security forces during the Lekki incident.
