FALSE alarm over the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram
temporarily brought activities to a halt at the National Assembly
Complex, on Tuesday, as workers, legislators
and others ran for dear life, with the workers being forced to close
for the day before the official time.
However, the assembly security later dismissed the alarm as false
and unfounded. The head of the National Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms,
Colonel Emeka Okereke (retd), told newsmen that it was a rumour being
peddled by idle workers.
He said: “There was nothing like that. It was a false alarm that only people who have nothing to do carry around.”
Suddenly, as if they were being pursued, workers, legislators and
newsmen were seen running directly towards the gate for safety. Some of
them, who still had many things to do, abandoned their duty posts and
ran for dear life.
The problem started around 3.30 p.m. a few hours after the Senate
had wound up sitting culminating in the closure of banks, business
centres and food canteens.
Proprietors and heads of businesses domiciled in the complex were
heard calling to their staff to find their way out of the complex, just
as friends and family members were calling their loved ones to know
whether they were still in the National Assembly.
As a result of the incident, the National Assembly management
immediately summoned an emergency meeting of the security services in
the complex to review the situation.
It was later found out that the rumour was fuelled by the
Sergeants-at-Arms at the main gate, who were trying to discourage a
large number of visitors trying to force their way into the complex.
Sources within the National Assembly security unit disclosed that,
“the men at the checkpoint flew the kite in an effort to check the
influx of visitors into the complex. You know the lawmakers were on
recess before and as soon as they resumed, there was this sudden
increase in the number of people coming into this place and there is no
way we can turn them back.”
Meanwhile, about 15 persons were, on Tuesday, apprehended by security
agents and subjected to screening in connection with last Sunday’s
reported arrival of suspected Boko Haram members in Warri, Delta State.
The suspects, who were arrested by security agents between Monday
night and the early hours of Tuesday, allegedly arrived in Warri during
the period of the reported arrival of the Boko Haram suspects.
Nigerian Tribune, however, learnt that some of them were screened by
security agents who sought the assistance of the Nigerian Immigration
Service to establish whether the suspects were Nigerians or foreigners.
It was gathered that the security agents also sought to establish the
mission of the suspects in Warri and that those who were able to give
concrete answers were left off the hook, while others were still being
interrogated at the time of filing this report.
“We made some arrests. The essence is to establish the mission of the
suspects in the town. The arrest does not necessarily mean they are
Boko Haram members.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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