Senate’s Stolen Mace ‘Abandoned’ Under City Gate Flyover – Police

The Nigeria Police, on Thursday, said they have recovered the Senate’s stolen Mace after “a patriotic passerby saw it” around the City Gate in Abuja where it was abandoned by the hoodlums who made away with it on Wednesday.

The Police said it was due to the “intense surveillance patrol” and systematic stop and search operations carried out by the IGP Monitoring Unit that forced the suspected thugs to dump the Mace at the said spot.

Recall that Senator Ovie Omo-agege had reportedly led the thugs who whisked away the Mace from the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday after he was suspended by the Red Chamber for challenging its bid to reorder the 2019 election sequence.

But in a statement signed by SP Aremu Adeniran, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, the Police said they have recovered the Mace and have equally commenced investigation into the matter with a view of arresting the perpetrators.

The statement reads in part: “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 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.”

Meanwhile, the Police have released Senator Omo-agege from their custody after the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker denied involvement in the invasion of the Senate.