Gbajabiamila’s Security Aide Who Killed Newspapers Vendor Suspended

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has suspended one of his security detail who reportedly killed a newspaper vendor in Abuja.

Naija News reported earlier that a security aide attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives shot the newspaper vendor at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3 pm on Thursday.

The newspaper vendor who was identified as Ifeanyi Okereke was rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he reportedly died.

Okereke was shot when he and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker who was reported to give out arms to people.

The Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors Association in FCT, Etim Eteng, while speaking on the incident noted that Okereke died at the National Hospital shortly after the incident.

He further stated that the wife of the deceased gave birth to a baby on Thursday morning.

“The speaker called to give vendors money and the security aide just shot him (Okereke) in the head. He was rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours later,” he said on the telephone.

In a statement he personally signed and issued on Friday, Gbajabiamila while describing the shooting as horrible, said he is distraught by the incident.

He said he was unaware that the vendor was killed in the attempt to protect him until he arrived at his destination.

Gbajabiamila 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 the 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.”