Newspaper vendors protest killing of colleague in Abuja

Newspapers vendors in the federal capital territory have protested the killing of their colleagues, Ifeanyi Elechi, who was shot dead on Thursday by a security aide to the speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The vendors who carried placards, demanded justice.

They insisted that the errant operative, believed to be a DSS official, must be brought to book.

Gbajabiamila had issued a statement expressing regrets over the tragedy and announcing the suspension of the officer involved.

He said he was not aware of the incident until much later, adding that he was gutted by the killing.

Reports say, the shooting incident happened when Elechi and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari way, three arms zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker who was said to be in the habit of giving out money anytime he passed by them.

The victim was shot in the head and died at the national hospital.

Chairman of the newspapers vendors association in FCT, Etim Eteng, said the association would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

Eteng said the vendor’s death was not the result of accidental gunfire or stray bullets, but that he was shot point-blank by the unidentified security officer.