Gbajabiamila Claims Aide ‘Shot Into The Air’ After Newspaper Vendor Killed In Abuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reacted to the alleged shooting of a newspaper vendor by one of his security aides on Thursday in Abuja.

A video had gone viral on social media, suggesting that the newspaper vendor was allegedly shot dead by Gbajabiamila’s security aide around Eagle Square in Abuja.

But confirming the incident on Friday morning, the Speaker claimed that his security aide “shot into the air” to disperse an unidentified crowd that thronged his convoy.

He expressed regret that the unnamed newspaper vendor was killed in the process, adding that he had suspended the security aide involved.

Gbajabiamila tweeted, “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.

“In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation,” he said.

THE WHISTLER reports that the incident is coming on the heels of a two-week long protest against the Nigeria Police Force over incessant reports of brutality, extrajudicial killings and accidental discharges by police officers.