The Nigerian Senate, Thursday, gave its three committees two weeks to investigate and report back the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Linda Angela Igwetu, the NYSC corper who was allegedly shot by a police Office two nights ago.
During plenary, Senator Atai Aidoko, citing Order 42 and 52, raised the issue, stating that while on her way home with her friends, the corper was shot and rushed to Garki hospital, Abuja but was not treated because they needed a police report.
Commenting on the Motion, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate, said, “There are two issues here. One, is how could this have happened? How could the officer mistakenly or otherwise have shot in such a way that led to this young lady’s death?
“Secondly, we have passed this Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Act, and the President assented to it on the 30th of December 2017. Until we start holding people accountable to these kinds of incidents, they will not stop.
“What is the point of us passing a Bill, and the President assenting to it, then it becomes law, and still, people will decide that they will not treat a patient. Is it that they are not well-informed? Is it that they were not aware that such a law exists?
“There are a number of issues that we need to address. Every Nigerian life is important. Especially young ones that are just about to start their own lives and careers. This is a loss that could have been avoided.”
The Senate resolved to:
Mandate its Committee on Youth and Sports to investigate the death of the NYSC Corper; mandate its Committee on Health to investigate the non-treatment of the patient, and; mandate its Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the cause of the incident.
All three Committees have been directed to report back to the Senate in 2-weeks
Meanwhile, Senator Saraki in his Twitter handle declared “Today, the Senate resolved to look into the death of the young NYSC corper, Miss Linda Angela Igwetu. Accordingly, we have directed our committees on Youth and Sports, Health, and Police Affairs to investigate the incident abd report back to plenary in two weeks.
“Every Nigerian life is important. Especially those of our young people who are full of life and aout to start their carreers. May the soul of ther dear and departed Linda be granted a place amongst the righteous ones.’’
In her Facebook timeline, Chinny her elder sister of the deceased wrote: My little sister was shot dead by the police this morning in Abuja.I just want justice for my sister!!! She was a corper and meant to pass out tomorrow!
Miss Linda Angela Igwetu was meant to have passed out Wednesday from her NYSC programme from her primary assignment positing at Outsource Global Company Mabushi.
She finished at work late at about 11p.m. and joined a few friends to a hang out before their passing out parade scheduled for the next day.
They left for home at about 3 a.m. and was reportedly shot at shortly after the check point immediately after Ceddi Plaza by a police officer identified as Benjamin Peters. The bullet hits Angela on her side, by the midriff and she began loosing blood in the open roof vehicle.
