The incident happened few seconds after a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, entered the chamber.
According to Premium Times, about 10 suspected thugs who came to the venue with the senator forced their entry into the chamber. Seconds later, the thugs ran out of the chamber with the mace causing pandemonium in the Senate. They left the National Assembly with the mace in a black SUV.
The mace is the symbol of authority of the parliament.
One of the security personnel at the entrance of the National Assembly said the thugs told him and other officers they were with the senator.
“We tried to stop them but they told us they were with him (Omo-Agege),” he says.
In a statement after the incident on Wednesday, Senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, said an incident is an act of treason.
Read the full statement below:
*RESPONSE TO TODAY’S INCIDENT IN THE SENATE CHAMBER*
Meanwhile, the Senate is said to have reconvened after the incident using a replacement mace, according to the Premium Times. It is also reported that the police has arrested Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, at the National Assembly premises on suspicion of instigating the theft.
(Premium Times)
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