The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday revealed the location where the stolen mace at the Senate chamber was found.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the Senate Chamber was invaded Wednesday by some persons believed to be sent by the suspended senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The thugs, numbering 15, forced their way into the chamber and snatched away the mace when the Senate was in session.
Mr Omo-Agege, who was earlier arrested, had distanced himself from the fiasco.
But a statement by the deputy police spokesman, Aremu Adeniran, said the discovery of the mace followed “total lockdown” of the capital city and a tip-off by a good Samaritan.
Mr Aremu, a superintendent of police, said discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate Plenary Session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team 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,” the statement read.
“The 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.”
