Armed Police Men Barricade Niger State Assembly

Some armed policemen yesterday took over the premises of the Niger State House of Assembly and also blocked the ever busy Paiko road causing gridlock and panic.

The workers resuming work at the State Secretariat opposite the House of assembly waited for several hours to allow the traffic congestion caused by the blockage by the policemen to clear.

According to Leadership, the action of the police was connected to a rumour that some youth from the constituencies of the members whose seats were declared vacant last week by the speaker of the Assembly, Adamu Usman were planning to invade the Assembly.

The members were Bashir Abdullahi Isa Lokogoma of Wushishi and Nazeer Abdullahi, of Rijau even as the duo had headed to court to seek for redress.

When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO) DSP Ibrahim Gambari said the deployment of the police to the House of Assembly was based on intelligence report and that it was routinue that the police fortify flash points based on such reports.

"Police are just being proactive, when we envisaged a problem we do not need to waste time. We must act accordingly." Barricade

Though the, Publicity Secretary of Niger State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Jonathan Vatsa said that the police barricaded the state house of assembly to prevent the two member whose seats were declared vacant from entering.

Vatsa made this know yesterday through his facebook page saying":

"The Nigeria Police have barricaded Niger State House of Assembly with the aim of preventing Two members, Hon. Abdullahi Isah Lokogoma representing Wushishi and Hon. Abdullahi Naziru member representing Rijau constituency whose seats were declared vacant last week by the speaker despite a standing court injunction against such a move."