A security aide attached to House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday shot dead a newspaper vendor identified as Ifeanyi Okereke, in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, confirmed the incident. “It is true. There was an incident involving use of firearms around the speaker. The FCT Police Command is investigating the incident.”

The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, caused panic in the area.

The victim was said to have been rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he was confirmed dead.

The incident reportedly happened when Okereke and other vendors selling newspapers on Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker, who was said to be in the habit of giving them money any time he passed.

Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors Association in FCT, Mr Etim Eteng, said Okereke died at the National Hospital shortly after he was rushed there.

“What I learnt was that the speaker called to give the vendors money and the security aide just shot him in the head. He was rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours later.”

“The vendors and other hawkers usually run after VIPs and lawmakers whenever they see them. In fact, they can identify big men by their vehicles. So, the vendors flocked around the speaker’s convoy and he gave them some money but a gunshot just went off,” another vendor said.

He added, “The bullet hit Ifeanyi in the head and he fell down. The officer who fired the gun said he wanted to fire in the air.”

Spokesman for the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, also confirmed that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.

“He died of gunshot injuries and would be moved from the Trauma Centre to the mortuary shortly,” he said.

In a statement he issued on Thursday, Gbajabiamila described the incident as horrible and sympathized with the family and colleagues of the deceased.

“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.

“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.”