Thugs invade Kogi assembly

Pandemonium broke out yesterday as thugs invaded the chamber of the Kogi State House of Assembly, disrupting the ongoing sitting.

The thugs, who stormed the assembly chamber shortly after the plenary had commenced, chased the lawmakers and other people at the gallery out of the chambers.

The Speaker, Imam Umar Ahmed, and his security aides ran helterskelter to escape.

He, however, managed to escape from the assembly complex unhurt.

It was learnt that the member representing Igalamela/Odolu constituency, Elder Friday Sani Makama, who was recently reinstated by a court ruling was the main target of the invasion.

The thugs also attacked Makama and some of his aides.

Most of the newly furnished chairs at the assembly gallery were thrown down into the chambers, making the lawmakers to scamper for safety.

Our correspondent observed that despite the heavy presence of security personnel at the assembly, the thugs moved freely to unleash mayhem unchecked.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Kogi Police Command, Williams Aya, said the men of the police force were deployed, following the intelligence reports that some hoodlums were planning to create mayhem.

He said that the commissioner of police had ordered a full scale investigation into the incident and that those behind the mayhem would be brought to justice.

Aya debunked the allegation that the police commissioner stormed the assembly to stop the plenary from sitting, adding that the CP was there to maintain law and order.