Nigerians have taken to social media to drag and condemn Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila for lying that one of the Police officers attached to his convoy shot in the air and not directly at an unarmed crowd in Abuja. The said shot fired by the unnamed Police officer eventually hit and killed a newspaper vendor, identified as Ifenyichukwu Elechi.
Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had on Friday 20th November 2020, taken to his official Twitter handle to narrate how the incident happened. He had tweeted saying that:
“”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.
“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 -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,” he had said.
Nigerians waking up to the sad news and seeing the Speaker’s tweets, were not happy to see that he has used the social media App the Federal Government is planning to regulate to pass his message. Others felt it was wrong for a Speaker of the House of Representatives to move about with a convoy with armed Police officers.
While the speaker has expressed his sadness at the horrible incident, Nigerians want him to reveal the identity of the officer, as that has been what the #EndSARS protests have been trying to stop.
See some of the reactions so far:
Adams Clem Replying to@femigbaja
The leaders in this country should be ashamed of themselves, how did we ended up having security forces that don’t have value for a Nigeria life? The other time the army shot in the air people died, today your security men shot in the air someone. Do people now live in the air?
AyoOlamide
@Ayoolamide84Replying to:
@femigbaja This is part of the police unprofessional conducts (Brutality) we are trying to curb. Why are they always trigger happy…. I mean they are always feeling so superior while carrying guns which is meant for protection of citizens May the soul of the deceased rest in peace
Chinedu Adikwu_esq @ChineduAdikwu
Replying to
@femigbaja
If you were Speaker in US (where your license to practice as attorney was withdrawn) you’d resign immediately Do you think we are fools?
dee@i_am_dexterous
Replying to
@femigbaja
The entire convoy didn’t shoot someone. One person did. That person has a name. Have him arrested and investigated. You guys are letting these people give you a very terrible rep. I don’t understand why you cover for these animals. Same thing with Lekki, no names till today!
AyoOlamide
@Ayoolamide84
They cover them up because they are the ones who brought them to power… Through victimization and molestation of voters. The security officers are the rigging machines hence the need to protect them.
piroskey
@youngpey
Replying to
@femigbaja
The unidentified men that obstructed the convoy, were there armed? Why is it so easy in our nation to release shots at people who are not bearing arms.
Speaker of the House needed gun to disperse crowd in a democracy, your failure to educate your overzealous security Aide that the crowd made u their Rep is horrible. Our leaders are so powerful that their convoy would make one to think we are not in a democracy.
@TheDrSub Replying to
@femigbaja
When Nigerian Police shoot at and murder unarmed Nigerians, they always claim to have shot into the air. Like the victims flew into the air to chest the bullet. Receive sense!