Apo Shooting Survivor Tells How Security Agents Killed His Co-Tenants

Gambo Idris is a survivor and witness of the shooting that took place on September 20 this year at an unfinished building in Apo area of Abuja. Testifying today before the National Human Rights Commission, he narrated how security agents shot and killed his co-tenants in the building.

Mr. Idris, a tricycle rider, said he woke up at about midnight upon hearing gunshots and had to remain in his room as armed men surrounded the house.

"I saw three masked men in black uniforms shooting a co-tenant in the stomach," Idris told the hearing chaired by the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Anslem Odinkalu.
He said he stayed in the room with another man until the gunmen left. The two of them saw the intestines of the shot man.

Idris said the shootings lasted an hour. The survivors left the buildings for "Gwari Hill" and had to wait 30 minutes until the security men had left.

Only then the policemen came to their rescue with flashlights, calling out for them to come down. Moments later, the police officers told Idris and other survivors to go back to the hill to avoid the probable return of the attackers. The officers also left the scene for the same reasons.

Mr. Idris admitted that over a hundred people used to sleep in the buildings every night by paying N200 weekly, but said nobody harboured arms there. The security man who used to rent out the building to them was very unfriendly and checked their rooms every morning.

Mr. Idris added that the soldiers that came to the building later in the day couldn't find any weapons there.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Tricycle and motorcycle riders' Union in Abuja, Alhaji Usman Buba Goza, said though the organisation recognise the need for government to take care of security of lives and properties, it will not condone the attempt by government to cover up the murder of its innocent members.

He said the Association had been looking forward to receive the report of the senate’s investigation into the matter for about two months now without and result adding that if those involved in the killings were not brought to book and the victims and their families compensated within 72 hours, his union will stage a nationwide protest.

Mr Odinkalu persuaded him to jettison the ultimatum and the protest as the hearing was not the proper avenue for such a representation.