Two Aso Rock staff injured in accidental discharge back to work

TWO persons injured as a result of accidental discharge from a service pistol belonging to a security agent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, have returned to their duty posts.

It was gathered that a female junior worker who sustained injuries on her stomach and thigh and a security operative, whose extent of injuries could not be immediately ascertained, were treated and discharged.

The pistol was said to have been brought in by a security man attached to one of the top government functionaries involved in Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which was presided over by a President Muhammadu Buhari.

Visiting security aides have been mandated to leave their service pistols with internal Villa security at the Administration Gate of the Presidential Villa since they should not be found with weapons around the president.

The security involved had apparently handed his (pistol), but did not deactivate it before doing so.

It was not clear what had become of the bearer for failing to deactivate it before handing it over to security at the Administration Gate.

Villa security sources said on Thursday that even though the owner of the pistol could be made to give explanation, the incident was not to strange in security settings.

The source who did not want to be quoted since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stressed the need for personnel to pay closer attention.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that he was unaware of the incident.