Pandemonium As Hoodlums Invade Kogi Assembly, Beat Legislators As Speaker Narrowly Escaped

There was pandemonium on Tuesday at the Kogi State House of Assembly after some suspected hoodlums invaded the State House of Assembly, disrupting its plenary sitting and beat up members.

It is understood that the thugs descended on the member representing Igalamela/Odolu constituency, Friday Sani, who was just resuming after been reinstated by a state High Court, beating and inflicted serious injuries on him.

NAN however reports that the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Umar Imam, narrowly escaped when the hoodlums attacked.

Oluwatoyin Lawal (APC-Yagba West) also narrowly escaped being hit by one of the big chairs hauled from the gallery into the chamber while some journalists covering the sitting were also attacked and beaten as they scampered for safety.

Vehicles belonging to the lawmakers were also vandalised within the assembly complex.

The gate of the complex was also locked against the speaker and this enabled the hoodlums to pelt his vehicles with stones and other objects.

Responding to the development, Imam expressed shock, saying the house did not see the attack coming though a bit concerned when security agents inundated the premises in the morning.

He, however said that when the police assured him that they were there to maintain peace and ensure that nothing abnormal happen, he relaxed.

Imam, who told journalists that the house had adjourned indefinitely, however expressed reservation over the conduct of the policemen during the attack on the assembly.

He said, “We have been witnessing crises in assemblies but it had always been in-house, but this one coming from outsiders makes it news, the hoodlums came in and took over in the presence of the policemen.

“The business of the day was carried out with the assurances from the commissioner of police but the hoodlums had a free day in the presence of the policemen.”

Clearly peeved by the incident, Governor Yahaya Bello said his administration would not condone any act of rascality adding, ”anybody that breaks the law will face the law”.

The governor, who spoke through the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said security agencies had been directed to fish out the perpetrators of the house.

“We want to denounce insinuations that the governor is scheming for the impeachment of the speaker. The governor is not interested in instigating the impeachment of speaker.

“The members already passed a vote of confidence on the speaker and it is not the responsibility of the governor to install or remove speaker,” he said.