Lawmakers flee National Assembly

Tribune

21 September 2011

Lawmakers flee National Assembly

•Over Boko Haram bomb scare •It’s false alarm -Security •15 suspected sect members arrested in Warri •UK to partner Nigeria on Boko Haram

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.

++++

15 suspects arrested

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.

“They came into town about the same time of the reported arrival of the suspected Boko Haram members. That is why we are investigating them,” a source in the know told Nigerian Tribune.

Meanwhile, undercover security agents continued their search for the suspected Boko Haram members alleged to have arrived in Warri, on Sunday.

Plain-clothes policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) were still seen at areas usually congregated by the Hausa.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that the Mammy Market at the Army Barracks was also put under surveillance to ensure the suspects did not penetrate the area for cover because of the heat on them.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Charles Muka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, however, said that there was no presence of Boko Haram members in the state.

Notwithstanding, he said the police were on top of the situation, assuring that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to curtail any threat to peace in the state.

The state police command said it had intensified its stop and search mechanism, and put all policemen on alert.

Travellers entering the state from Edo, Baylesa and Anambra states were subjected to a thorough search by the police.

State police commissioner, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe, told the Nigerian Tribure on Tuesday that the command had deployed personnel in the state, while awaiting any proactive action.

On the report that a truckload of persons suspected to be Boko Haran sect members arrived in Warri, Alhaji Tsafe said he could not confirm it, since nobody had been arrested and none of his officers had brought such information to his notice.

He, however, said the command was on top of the situation and advised the people to go about their lawful duties.