Abuja Newspaper Vendor Shooting Involved DSS, Personnel Detained

Authorities are investigating the shooting and killing of a newspaper vendor in Abuja involving an agent of Department of State Services (DSS), official said Friday.

One Ifeanyi Okereke, a vendor at the Federal Secretariat complex was shot by a security aide of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in an incident which had drawn public outrage.

BIGPENNGR.COM reports there have been confusion on whether it was a policeman or secret service operative that pulled the trigger on Okereke.

Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, in a statement said that the Speaker’s security aide who pulled the trigger was its personnel.

He said that investigation is ongoing to unravel what led to incident and how the man died.

Afunanya said; “The Service hereby confirms that the suspect is one of its personnel deployed to the Speaker’s Convoy as a security detail.

“And as already stated by the Speaker that he has been suspended from his Convoy, the Service has further withdrawn him from the assignment.

“As part of its disciplinary procedures in the instance, he has been taken into detention.

“In addition, the Service has opened a detailed investigation into the matter.

“While it pledges to be transparent and accountable in handling this, it is liaising with appropriate authorities to achieve this objective.

“The Service condoles with the family of the deceased and his loved ones. It has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident and will surely keep to this”.