Police Not Involved In NASS Siege – IGP Idris

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has distance the Force from the blockade on the National Assembly (NASS) by security operatives.

Idris said this shortly after meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the siege on the National Assembly came to him as a surprise, noting that the Nigeria Police Force will issue a statement on the situation.

“Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. In fact we are going to issue a (press) release (on that),’’ he said.

Mr Osinbajo had on Tuesday met behind closed-doors with the Police boss and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, before sacking the later moments later.

Recall that earlier today, masked operatives of the DSS stopped lawmakers, staff and journalists from gaining entrance to the NASS complex.

However, hours later, lawmakers were allowed in while staff and journalists were still refused entry.

The lawmakers that were allowed in were not allowed to enter with their cars, with many of them trekking to the complex.

Reacting, Osinbajo described the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex earlier today as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order.

Osinbajo in a statement described the action as “unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said “By this statement, Professor Osinbajo is consequently assuring Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.”