The Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila has confirmed the death of a newspaper vendor shot by one of his security aides on Thursday. 

It was learnt that a policeman attached to the convoy of Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had allegedly shot dead a newspaper vendor named Elechi Emmanuel at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.

The victim was seen gasping for breath and unconscious in a video while one of his colleagues tried desperately to revive him immediately after the shooting.

It was gathered that newspaper vendors upon sighting the Speaker’s convoy gathered to hail him but the overzealous security detail opened fire on them, killing Emmanuel in the process.

Gbajabiamila who, in a series of tweets on his official handle in the early hours of Friday, narrated how the incident took place, explained that the vendor was hit by a stray bullet meant to disperse a crowd when he went to greet newspaper vendors while leaving the National Assembly, according to The Channels.

He narrated: ''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.

READ ALSO:

President Buhari Calls For International Cooperation To Fight Tuberculosis

''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.

Sending his condolences to the family of the deceased, the Speaker expressed distraught about the incident.

''I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors.

''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 have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced.

''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.”