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JUST IN: Gbajabiamila Confirms His Security Aide Shot Vendor Dead In “Horrible Incident”, Orders His Suspension From Convoy

Published

4 years ago

November 20, 2020

BIGPEN

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has confirmed that his police security aide actually shot a newspaper vendor dead in an incident which he described as “horrible”.

BIGPENNGR.COM understands the incident, occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3pm on Thursday, when the Speaker left the national assembly and stopped by to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner.

Multiple reports say the victim identified as Ifeanyi Okereke who was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, later died at the hospital.

Gbajabiamila, in series of tweet on Friday on his verified Twitter handle, expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, saying that he has caused detail investigation into it.

He said that in the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.

His tweets read; “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 am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors.

“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.

“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”, Gbajabiamila tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors Association in FCT, Etim Eteng, who earlier confirmed Okereke died at the National Hospital shortly after the incident, disclosed that the deceased’s wife 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.

A vendor, Abdullahi Seidu, said the unidentified trigger-happy security aide could not explain why he shot the deceased when confronted by Gbajabiamila.

Seidu said, “The vendors and other hawkers usually run after VIPs and lawmakers whenever they see them. In fact, they can identify the big men by their vehicles. So, the vendors flocked around the speaker’s convoy and he gave them some money but a gunshot just went off.

“The bullet hit Ifeanyi in the head and he fell down. The officer who fired the gun said he wanted to fire in the air.”

The National Hospital spokesman, Dr Tayo Haastrup, confirmed that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.