Vendors protest killing of colleague by Gbajabiamila’s security aide

Newspaper vendors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have taken to the streets to protest against the killing of their colleague, Ifeanyi Elechi, by a security aide to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Elechi was shot dead Thursday evening at the federal secretariat, near the National Assembly.

The speaker in a tweet post said he had stopped to exchange pleasantries with some of the newspaper vendors around the National Assembly when some “unidentified” men obstructed his convoy.

Gbajabiamila said his aides shot into the air to disperse them, but that he later learnt that a stray bullet hit “someone”.

In the protest on Friday, the vendors held placards some of which read: ‘Femi Gbajabiamila’s aide killed Elechi a vendor in Abuja’, ‘Give us justice’, ‘vendors’ lives matter’.

They were also chanting: ‘All we are saying, give us justice.’

In protest against the killing, the vendors delayed the distribution of newspapers until 10:00 am.

The demonstration started at Area 1 in Garki district where vendors go to collect newspapers for distribution.
Gbajabiamila described the incident as “horrible”, adding that many of the vendors have known him since he moved to the FCT.

Daily Trust

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