Nigeria police has recovered the Senate’s stolen mace and has fortified security at the national assembly following Wednesday’s invasion of the Upper Chamber.
The police said the mace was abandoned under the flyover before the City Gate in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, on 18 April, by suspected thugs who disrupted the senate plenary session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team, a statement by SP Aremu Adeniran, deputy police spokesperson said.
“The team was coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police checkpoints with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace.
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The statement said police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering “which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passerby saw it and alerted the police”.
“While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria Police Force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja metropolis for their support, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace.
“The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to guarantee protection of lives and property, peace and stability and sustain democracy in the country remains unequivocal and unwavering.
