where she worked as a sales girl.
Three other people sustained gunshot injuries when policemen from the
FCT Police Command fired bullets indiscriminately in an attempt to
enforce the demolition order of the Abuja Metropolitan Management
Council.
The policemen had stormed the area around 7 am with officials of
Development Control Department, who had come to demolish illegal
structures.
But residents and indigenes, who felt that the government had no right
to demolish their houses when they were yet to be resettled, resisted
the operation.
They claimed that the case was still in court and that their leaders
had advised them to continue to live in the area pending the
determination of the suit.
As the policemen shot indiscriminately to control the residents,
bullets penetrated into one of the shops and Lucy was hit in the
chest. She was rushed to Garki Hospital, but she was confirmed dead on
arrival. Her body has been deposited in the mortuary.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, met
the House of Representatives representing AMAC/Bwari constituency of
the FCT, Zephaniah Jisalo, at the hospital when he visited.
Inalegwu, who was in tears, assured the lawmaker that the case would
be investigated.
"We are not sure what took our men there or what led to the shooting,
it's still a matter for investigation," he said.
Emeka Ani, owner of the photo shop, where the deceased worked, said
that his sales boy also sustained gunshot injuries during the
incident.
He said, "From morning, the police surrounded our area. They said they
came for demolition. All of a sudden, they started shooting
sporadically. They shot into my shop and killed my sales girl. My boy
also sustained injuries. Lucy has been with me for about one month.
Her sister brought her for me from Cross River."
The National Coordinator, Greater Gbyagi Initiative, Mr. Gimba Baiza,
described the incident as wicked.