Gbaja’s security aide ‘accidentally’ kills newspaper vendor in Abuja

A security aide in the convoy of Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, has “accidentally” killed a newspaper vendor in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a series of tweets in the early hours of Friday, Gbajabiamila said on Thursday evening after leaving his office, he stopped to exchange pleasantries with some newspaper vendors around the national assembly after which some “unidentified” men obstructed his convoy.

The speaker said his aides shot into the air to disperse these men, but that he later learnt that a stray bullet hit “someone”.

The number four citizen described the incident as “horrible”.

“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,” he tweeted.

“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.”

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.

— Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) November 20, 2020

Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow, identified the vendor as Ifeanyichukwu Elechi.

Sowore accused the speaker of “fleeing” the scene after the incident.

“#ENDSARS Newspaper Vendors in Abuja protest at @nassnigeria over the killing of their member, Ifeanyichukwu Elechi by @femigbaja ‘s security aide,” he tweeted.

“The speaker admitted that his aides shot/killed Elechi but sadly they fled the scene. If you are in that vicinity, join the protest.”

#ENDSARS Newspaper Vendors in Abuja protest at @nassnigeria over the killing of their member, Ifeanyichukwu Elechi by @femigbaja 's security aide. The speaker admitted that his aides shot/killed Elechi but sadly they fled the scene. If you are in that vicinity, join the protest

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— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) November 20, 2020

There have been wild reactions on social media over the incident which happened only a few weeks after Nigerians poured into the streets to demand an end to police brutality.