Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said he has handed over his security aide, who shot a newspaper vendor dead in Abuja, to the Department of State Services for prosecution.
He also revealed that the victim, Ifeanyi Okereke, was shot in the head by one Abdullahi Hassan, as his convoy drove out of the National Assembly complex on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3pm, caused panic in the area.
Okereke was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers where he reportedly died.
It was 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 is said to be in the habit of giving out money anytime he passed them.
The incident has since sparked outrage across the country with many calling for stiff punishment for the culprit and compensation for the victim’s family.
To drive home this demand, colleagues of the victim took to the streets of Abuja on Friday morning to protest his killing.
Gbajabiamila in the early hours of Friday confirmed the incident and revealed that the officer has been suspended.
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In a follow up statement on Friday afternoon, the Speaker identified the DSS agent as Abdullahi Hassan.
Gbajabiamila, who vowed to get justice for the deceased, disclosed that he had contacted Okereke’s family members and would meet with them.
The statement reads;
The unfortunate death of Mr Ifeanyi Okereke at the hands of one of my security aides has left me deeply shaken.
Mr Okereke was a citizen going about his business, trying to make a living for himself and his family. There is no reason for his life to have ended the way it did.
This morning, I have handed over the security operative, Abdullahi M. Hassan, to the Department of State Security (DSS) for investigation and appropriate administrative and judicial action. In the interim, he has been suspended from the convoy.
l expect, and I will see to it that the family of Mr Ifeanyi Okereke receives the full measure of justice so that their bereavement is not compounded by any actions that can cause them further pain and suffering.
I have expressed my personal condolence to his family and have arranged to meet with them when the parents of Mr Okereke, who are already on their way, arrive in Abuja.
Additionally, I have committed to them that I will support his wife and the immediate family he has left behind.
I commiserate with the family of Mr Ifeanyi Okereke and ask all Nigerians to join me at this time to pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.
