Senate probes killing of journalist during Shiite protest
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to probe the alleged killing of a Nigerian journalist, Alex Ogbu by the police during a protest by members of the Nigeria Islamic Movement also known as Shiite in Abuja.
This followed a petition over the killing of the journalist assigned to cover the Shiite protest, brought before the Senate by Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) during plenary.
The petition was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Sen. Moro, who came under a point of order, said the late journalist, Alex Ogbu on January 21was shot on the head by a police officer during a demonstration by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Abuja.
According to Sen. Moro, an autopsy carried out on the body of the deceased journalist showed to the contrary that he died from a bullet wound to the head.
“On January 21, Alexander Ogbu, a peace- loving man and journalist, was shot on the forehead by men of the police with the intention to kill and did kill him.
“This sad incident occurred at the scene of a protest led by members of the Shiite group in Abuja. During the protest, another bystander was shot on the leg despite having identified himself as a vehicle inspection officer and not a protester.
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“This was confirmed by the media and eyewitness account, and further buttressed by the spokesperson of the FCT command in media reports, that men of the police shot at protesters.
“Mr. Alexander Ogbu was shot and killed by trigger-happy policemen who used live ammunition to disperse protesters and ended up killing and maiming innocent citizens going about their legitimate businesses,” the petition alleged.
Sen. Moro, while giving a summary of the petition, explained that “when the police insisted that it was not the police that killed him, the wife insisted and took the case to the hospital and post-mortem was done and it was discovered that the man died of gunshot.
“And so Mr. President, the woman is insisting that the police having killed her husband and their breadwinner, to take responsibility for the upkeep of the family and of course, apologise to the family for taking away their bread winner.”
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, thereafter, sought clarification from Sen. Moro as to whether the wife, who is the petitioner, is presently seeking judicial remedy before any court.
Responding, the senator disclosed that there is no suit before any court of law on the matter.
