The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday confirmed that the aide to the Speaker of House of Representatives that shot and killed a vendor, Ifeanyi Okereke, is an operative of the Service.
This confirmation was contained in a statement signed by the DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya.
The statement further revealed that the offender, killer officer, Abdullahi Hassan has been suspended and now in detention.
The DSS said it has launched an investigation into the matter and promised to be transparent and accountable in handling the issue.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to the allegation of shooting and killing of one Ifeanyi Okereke by a security aide of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“The Service hereby confirms that the suspect is one of its personnel deployed to the Speaker’s Convoy as a security detail. And as already stated by the Speaker that he has been suspended from his Convoy, the Service has further withdrawn him from the assignment.
“As part of its disciplinary procedures in the instance, he has been taken into detention. In addition, the Service has opened a detailed investigation into the matter. While it pledges to be transparent and accountable in handling this, it is liaising with appropriate authorities to achieve this objective.
“The Service condoles with the family of the deceased and his loved ones. It has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident and will surely keep to this.”
