The killing of eight people in an uncompleted building in Apo community in Abuja was not a case of extra judicial killing but the outcome of a hasty executed operation, the Nigerian Senate committee investigating the incident has said.

On September 20, a combined team of military and state security officials killed eight people and wounded 11 squatters during a raid of an uncompleted building alleged to have been occupied by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The senate committee in its report pointed out that “the security agencies had convincing intelligence to believe that some Boko Haram members were among the over 100 occupants of the uncompleted building”.

Some lawmakers contested the report, insisting that the committee deviated from its mandate.

The security agencies involved said that they carried out the operation after receiving intelligence reports that some Boko Haram members were among those occupying the uncompleted building and had hid weapons there.

At The Senate proceedings, the chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Magoro, stated that out of the 15 persons arrested during the operation, four have confessed to being members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

But immediately after the report was read, Senator Sani Saleh, a retired military officer, rejected the report.

Senator Sahabi Yau, the lawmaker, who called the attention of the Senate to the incident, also faulted the report.

The incident emphasises the need for security operatives in Nigeria to be more mindful of civilian lives during their operations.