Killing Of Vendor: Officer Attached To Gbajabiamila Not Policeman – FCT Command

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has refuted claims that an officer attached to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who allegedly fired the gun that killed a newspaper vendor on Thursday in Abuja, was a policeman.

Speaking through a statement, the FCT command spokesperson, ASP Yusuf Mariam, on Friday, said preliminary investigations show that the security agent who fired the shot was not a policeman.

Mariam said the Commissioner of Police FCT CP. Bala Ciroma, has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident.

“The FCT Police Command wishes to unequivocally refute the allegation making the round in sections of the media that a Police officer attached to the convoy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives shot at a newspaper vendor within the Three Arm Zone on Thursday 19th November 2020.

“Contrary to the misleading information, preliminary investigation into the unfortunate incident reveals that the security aide who shot at the vendor is not a member of the Nigeria Police Force.

“While commiserating with the family and friends of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police wishes to guarantee members of the public that the Command will be lucid in its investigation and ensure the findings are made public.”

Speaker Gbajabiamila on Thursday had reportedly stopped to exchange pleasantries with newspaper vendors after leaving the National Assembly an

But said “unidentified men” obstructed his convoy which got the attention of his security details 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,” the speaker had reacted in a series of tweet.