The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has suspended a security detail attached over alleged killing of a newspaper vendor.
A security detail attached to the Speaker on Thursday, November 19, fired a gunshot that killed a newspaper vendor in Abuja.
The incident occurred at a junction leading to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
An eyewitness, who does not want his name in print, told The Guardian that the newspaper vendor, identified as Ifeanyichukwu Elechi, was hailing the Speaker while on his way before the police officer pulled the trigger and shot the newspaper in the head.
In a statement released on his social media handles, Gbajabiamila while expressing his regret over the unfortunate incident gave an account of how it happened.
According to him, ”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.”
