Another SSS Apo Shooting Victim Dies

ALL was gloomy yesterday as the remains of a tricycle operator, Nasir Adamu, was moved to the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja for burial.

Adamu, 33, who was a Keke Napep rider at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was shot in the stomach. He died at about 1 am.

He was part of the victims who died following last Thursday’s Apo killings that drew a big outrage against security agents, who claimed that they were terrorists.

He is survived by his wife, Mayya and a daughter.

According to the late Adamu’s brother, Suleiman Adamu, he hailed from Moriki village in Zurumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Speaking at the Asokoro General Hospital morgue yesterday, Suleiman said his brother bought Keke Napep two weeks before the incident after he had sold okro for a long time at the Garki modern market.

Hon. Amiru Tukur Idris, representing Timbakwu Federal Constituency, Katsina State, described the situation as “undemocratic and illegal”.

He said the House had petitioned Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Sa’ad Ola Ibrahim and human rights organisations.

The lawmaker said he lost about four people in the attack, adding that the Army general, who claims to own the building where the incident occurred, visited the Asokoro General Hospital last Friday and was willing to foot the survivors’ hospital bills.

“In fact, we are having a meeting today with four other House members and a Senator from Zamfara State to know the next line of action.

“The chairman of Tricycle Association identified them as his own people. He said they are not hooligans. They have their own jobs too. They are hustlers,” Idris added.

Hon. Biliaminu Shinkafi, representing Zurma Shinkafi Federal Constituency, spoke also of plans to present the case before the National Assembly.

Human rights activist Shehu Sani described the killings as “arbitrary and extra-judicial”. He said there was need to call the consciousness of the public to the incident to forestall a reccurrence.

“I am here to condole with the family and help to take the deceased home in solidarity with the victims of the dastardly act of the security agencies. What has happened is nothing but extra-judicial killings. It is one of the arbitrariness and brigandage by security agents. For the past three years, fighting insurgency has become an excuse for killings of innocent citizens,” Sani said.

A survivor, Yusuf Abubakar, stated that there were over 200 persons sleeping in the uncompleted building. He said about 18 of them were killed when the security agents came in the night, surrounded the building and started shooting them.

He said he narrowly escaped when a friend was shot and fell where he was lying down .

According to him, there are about 13 people admitted into the Asokoro General Hospital. But Adamu died around 1am.

He lamented that he suffered a fracture and the bullet in his hand was yet to be removed. He said the doctor had been taking good care of them.

Abubakar recalled that the owner of the building threatened the squatters.

“He spoke on Wednesday; on Thursday in the mid-night, soldiers surrounded the house and began to shoot. There were more than 200 people sleeping in the house. So, as they began to shoot, people started running. Those who ran were shot and killed. They killed about 18 people. One died around 1am (last night). There is another person admitted to Wuse General Hospital.”

Speaking on how he escaped, Abubakar said: “Anyone who stood during the shooting fell and died, so as I was trying to escape, I fell and the bullet hit my hand. I was wearing a white shirt when it happened. So, I jumped into a water basin. The person who was running after me was shot and he fell on me; so the soldier did not see me.”

Asked if he knew the number of soldiers, he said he could not but they were many.

He urged the doctors to attend to him.

A lawyer, Mr. Sanusi Musa, spoke of plans to begin a legal action before the end of the week. Musa accused the military of taking advantage of insecurity in the country to kill the victims unjustly.

He said: “These people have briefed us and we are taking up there case. They are now our clients. We intend to institute an action on their behalf to seek redress for the injustice done to them by whoever it is.