Presidency Assures Nigerians, Foreigners of Safety in Aso Rock

Presidency Assures Nigerians, Foreigners of Safety in Aso Rock

Following Wednesday’s accidental discharge incident in Aso Rock, the presidency has urged all Nigerian and foreign visitors to the Presidential Villa to be assured of their safety.

The reassurance became necessary after a member of staff at the State House identified as Mrs Gladys Okpa escaped death by the whiskers on Wednesday when there was an accidental discharge from a gun carried by a security operative.

The operative was said to be emptying the weapon while submitting himself to a security check at the main entrance of the Villa.

Both Mrs Okpa and the security operative sustained injuries to different parts of their bodies and were taken to the State House Medical Centre to be attended to.

Special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, in a statement on Thursday said the Villa was safe.

Garba is quoted by the Vanguard to have said:

“According to reports received so far, the security official involved in this incident is not attached to the State House. Rather, he came on invitation as a witness in an ongoing investigation and was required, as is the rule, to surrender his weapon at the gates before entry.

“Investigation revealed that the operative conducted the normal safety precaution as professionally required when the pistol accidentally fired.“

In times past, many Nigerian motorists have been killed by extortionist policemen who often blamed such incidents on accidental discharge. A similar occurrence of an accidental discharge at the Lagos airport last July left 2 persons injured.

Without a doubt, these incidents highlight the need for security operatives to pay more attention to safety while the authorities pay more attention to quality in making arms procurement.