•We're not involved, say Police
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent investigation into the Friday shooting in Abuja in which seven persons were shot dead in the Apo area when security operatives stormed a building said to be the hideout of some Boko Haram members.
He said that an independent investigation by Nigeria's parliament, the judiciary or civil society will unravel the facts behind such killing which also left 16 others injured.
The V-P observed that since the incident took place in the early hours of Friday, there have been conflicting reports concerning the shootout.
The State Security Service (SSS) claiming that they had a confrontation with the insurgent group, Boko Haram, while independent sources are indicating that the victims were economic migrants squatting in the uncompleted building, he observed.
In a statement by his media office yesterday, Atiku said he became disturbed following the accounts by the Reuters International news agency as well as the local media that the victims were squatters who came under attack at the instigation of owner of the building.
"For me, this issue borders on human rights, the rule of law and the sanctity of human life. Our security services should stick to their role under the constitution: make the country safe," said Atiku.
He said while every citizen should support the government's efforts to counter terrorism and defeat it, allegations of abuses and extrajudicial killings must not be swept under the carpet.
The former Vice-President decried the tendency of security agencies to profile certain Nigerians, in spite of constant denials to the contrary, saying that terrorist profiling was a fact of life today in Nigeria.
He recalled that in 2006, it took riots by Igbo traders in the Federal Capital Territory to force the government at that time to investigate, arrest and charge police officers that allegedly killed six Igbo traders they branded as armed robbers.
"There must be an independent investigation into this incident to insure human rights and the rule of law. Things don't have to get to this sorry pass," Atiku cautioned the authorities.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of the seven persons in an uncompleted building behind the Legislators' Quarters in Apo, Abuja.
The police said it was not part of the operation which was jointly conducted by the Department of State Service DSS and men of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army.
Army authorities in Abuja had directed all media enquiries to the DSS which claimed that it acted on an intelligence report that occupants of the building were members of the Boko Haram sect and who have a place at the Gudu Muslim Cemetery where they bury a cache of arms.
Earlier on Friday, Assistant Commissioner of Police in-Charge of Abuja Metro Area Command, Mr Sunday Odukoya, confirmed the killings. He said the police would work with other security agencies to get more brief on the issue.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Altine Daniel, who also confirmed the operation said she had no details about especially as it was conducted without any police input.
"I do not have the briefing, honestly'', she said, directing enquiries to the DSS. Prodded further, she said; ""Please, I don't know; you people should contact the SSS". Sunday Mirror learnt that while the operation lasted, a Police detachment in the area had signalled the FCT Command that an operation was being conducted by the DSS and the army.
Also, Director, Directorate of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru said the operation was led by the secret police even though the army was involved. He however would not give further details, saying the DSS had already issued an explicit statement to the media. "The operation is an SSS-led operation. It was a joint operation; the SSS led the operation.
Direct all your questions to the SSS," Mr. Attahiru said. Reacting to the incident, however, the Federal Capital Territory FCT Administration, FCTA, warned all property owners and developers within the Federal Capital Territory against harbouring squatters or miscreants in their uncompleted structures.
Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, stated that henceforth, owners of such uncompleted buildings would be held responsible for the actions of miscreants found in them. He quoted the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed as warning that owners or developers of such structures must ensure that their premises are not occupied by squatters and miscreants or risk severe sanctions.
