By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed retrieving the mace stolen on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday by hoodlums allegedly led by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
This came less than the 24-hour deadline given to the security operatives by the Senate to recover the mace.
A statement issued on Thursday morning by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, SP Aremu Adeniran, disclosed that the Senate’s symbol of authority was recovered from where it was dumped under a bridge in Abuja.
It was disclosed that the police a tipoff from passers-by, who sighted the material where it was abandoned.
“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 passer-by 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,” the statement said.
