Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has said he is horrified by the gruesome shooting of a newspaper vendor by a policeman attached to his convoy.
The late vendor, named Ifenyichukwu Elechi, was allegedly shot in the head at close range by the Speaker’s security aide.
He was reported to have died at the National Hospital where he was rushed to after the incident.
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Following the killing, the Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA) has vowed to stage a protest at the National Assembly and police force headquarters on Friday to demand justice for the victim.
ANDA in a statement signed by its President, Benji Obute, urged all its members to converge at the Area 1 today Friday adding that newspapers would not be shared Friday until after the protest.
The Speaker, in a statement described the killing as “a horrible incident.”
The statement reads: “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.”
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