BEVERLY HILLS, November 20, (THEWILL) – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said he is “personally distraught” over the killing of a newspaper vendor, Ifeanyichukwu Elechi by one of his security details.
The Speaker in a statement personally signed and issued on Friday, expressed his “deepest sympathies” with the family of the victim and all vendors in Abuja over the sad incident.
The security aide to the Speaker had shot the vendor in the head. The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3 pm on Thursday, caused panic in the area.
The victim was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he reportedly died.
THEWILL learnt that the shooting 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 out money anytime he passed them.
Gbajabiamila explained that the incident occurred when he stopped his convey to exchange pleasantries with the vendors as was his usual practice after work. He said “many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.”
He said he did not know that someone was killed in the attempt to protect him until he arrived at his destination.
The Speaker’s statement 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 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.”
Gbajabiamila further wrote, “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.”
Gbajabiamila said that the matter has been reported to the local police station and an investigation has commenced. He however said that the officer who fired the fatal shot had been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the incident, the Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA) said newspapers will not be shared until 10.a.m. on Friday in protest against the killing.
In a statement, the President of ANDA, Benji Obute called on all members to converge at the distribution centre in Area 1, for a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the Speaker and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to the incident.
“Sequel to the sad incident that happened this afternoon at the Federal Secretariat, which resulted in the death of one of us, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Elechi, a mass action will be carried out between the hours of 6am and 10am.
“A peaceful protest to call the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose security detail fired the shot, and the IGP to the brutal murder will be staged within that period.
“By this arrangement, papers won’t be shared until 10am, all distributors and vendors are to converge at Area 1 as no paper will be allowed on the streets until after the protest.
“Media Houses are enjoined to cooperate with us and ensure that no single paper is leaked out as any paper that defaults will be sanctioned. We must join hands to get justice for the fallen vendor”, he said
In a related development, Police have cordoned-off the Newspaper distribution centre in Area 1, venue of the scheduled peaceful protest. There is a heavy presence of security agents in the area.
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