Gbajabiamila Confirms Death Of Vendor Shot By His Security Aide, Suspends Officer

AS Gbajabiamila Mourns

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,
last night expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of a
newspaper vendor, his family and the entire Abuja vendors for the
killing of one of their members by his security aide.

A security aide attached to Gbajabiamila, yesterday shot dead
the vendor, identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Okereke, in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police
(DCP), Frank Mba, confirmed the incident.

He said the FCT Police Command has launched an investigation
into the shooting.

The security aide shot the vendor in the head causing his
death.

The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja,
caused panic in the area.

The victim was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by
his brother and some police officers, where he was confirmed
dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened when
Okereke and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way,
Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker, who was
said to be in the habit of giving them money any time he
passed.

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors
Association in FCT, Mr. Etim Eteng, said Okereke died at the
National Hospital shortly after he was rushed there.

He stated that his wife gave birth to a baby on yesterday
morning.

“What I learnt was that the speaker called to give the vendors
money and the security aide just shot him in the head. He was
rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours
later”.

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

“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.”

Spokesman of the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, confirmed
that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.

“He died of gunshot injuries and would be moved from the Trauma
Centre to the mortuary shortly,” he said.

Confirming the incident, Force PRO, Mba, said details of the
incident was sketchy but said:” it is true. There was an incident
involving use of firearms around the speaker. The FCT Police
Command is investigating the incident”.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Gbajabiamila described the
incident as horrible.

“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”.

AS Gbajabiamila Mourns

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,
last night expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of a
newspaper vendor, his family and the entire Abuja vendors for the
killing of one of their members by his security aide.

A security aide attached to Gbajabiamila, yesterday shot dead
the vendor, identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Okereke, in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police
(DCP), Frank Mba, confirmed the incident.

He said the FCT Police Command has launched an investigation
into the shooting.

The security aide shot the vendor in the head causing his
death.

The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja,
caused panic in the area.

The victim was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by
his brother and some police officers, where he was confirmed
dead.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened when
Okereke and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way,
Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker, who was
said to be in the habit of giving them money any time he
passed.

Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors
Association in FCT, Mr. Etim Eteng, said Okereke died at the
National Hospital shortly after he was rushed there.

He stated that his wife gave birth to a baby on yesterday
morning.

“What I learnt was that the speaker called to give the vendors
money and the security aide just shot him in the head. He was
rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours
later”.

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

“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.”

Spokesman of the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, confirmed
that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.

“He died of gunshot injuries and would be moved from the Trauma
Centre to the mortuary shortly,” he said.

Confirming the incident, Force PRO, Mba, said details of the
incident was sketchy but said:” it is true. There was an incident
involving use of firearms around the speaker. The FCT Police
Command is investigating the incident”.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Gbajabiamila described the
incident as horrible.

“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”.