MURDER IN ABUJA: VENDORS UNION PLAN TO SHUTDOWN ABUJA

"A peaceful protest to call the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose security detail fired the shot, and the IGP to the brutal murder will be staged within that period".... Iwara

Newspaper vendors located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the aegis of Newspaper Vendors Association, Abuja are spoiling for a showdown, on Friday 20th November, 2020 following the alleged killing of one of their colleagues by a security detail attached to the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives.

The death of the vendor, identified as Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Okereke Elechi allegedly occurred around 5pm on Thursday while the vendors were playing their trade at the ever busy Federal Secretariat where the Speaker, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila had stopped over.

Making this known late on Thursday evening in a statement is the chairman of the Vendors Union, Comrade Etim Iwara as he called out his colleagues and newspaper houses to join them as they stage a peaceful protest, following the death of their colleague.

Comrade Iwara, in a statement he personally signed, said;

"Sequel to the sad incident that happened this afternoon at the federal secretariat, which resulted in the death of one of us, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Elechi, a mass action will be carried out tomorrow morning, between the hours of 6am and 10am". 

According to Comrade Iwara, the purpose of the protest is to call the attention of the Honourable Speaker, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila.

"A peaceful protest to call the attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose security detail fired the shot, and the IGP to the brutal murder will be staged within that period", the statement read. 

"By this arrangement, papers won't be lifted from the distribution ground tomorrow until 10am, all vendors are to converge on Area 1 for the protest". 

"Media Houses are enjoined to cooperate with us and ensure that no single paper is leaked out to the street as any paper that defaults will be sanctioned. We must join hands to get justice for the fallen vendor", Comrade Iwara stated.

He called on his colleagues to provide  markers and cardboards, saying;

"As many as have cardboard papers, markers and other materials needed for the peaceful protest should kindly come with them to the distribution ground tomorrow morning". 

"Every inconvenience that this impromptu arrangement might cause our highly esteemed members, distributors and publishers is highly regretted, injustice to one is injustice to all", he concluded.