Nigeria News
Senators React As DSS Operatives Take Over National Assembly Complex
Reactions Trail Siege On National Assembly By DSS Operatives
Some senators who were denied entrance into the National Assembly earlier today have reacted to the development of the lock down by operatives of the Department of State Services.
Naija News reports that armed and masked officials of the Department of State Services, blocked access into the National Assembly complex, preventing lawmakers, staff as well as journalist from gaining access.
The security operatives later allowed only lawmakers to access the complex but the lawmakers can’t access their offices and the chamber as those in charge
Rafiu Ibrahim, a senator from Kwara state, was first to arrive among the senators.”We got here this morning to go into our office as usual; I work very early. During recess we do committee works and our own writings. I’m writing a book, so I go in there almost every day,” he said.
A serving Senator, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim is being denied access into his office by the DSS. He asks the DSS officials “Has the military taken over?” #SaveOurDemocracy pic.twitter.com/U9vWF3UKhY
— Olu (@Onemola) August 7, 2018
“We got here and DSS has taken over all the gates, all entrances to the National Assembly and they said it’s order from above. We asked them why, they said there is no reason. As it is today, it means Nigeria is under siege.”
Ben Murray-Bruce, PDP-Bayelsa, also condemned the situation. It has come to out attention that our colleagues cannot go to work after we adjourned for recess.
We will forever defend this hard fought democracy. Illegality will never stand! We are now in the complex but are yet to get access to the chambers as staff of the National Assembly incharge of this have been blocked from entry. #SaveOurDemocracy pic.twitter.com/vMnfOFFtF8
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) August 7, 2018
Senator Kabir Ibrahim, in his reaction also said they had to force their way in to forestall any act of illegality.
“I got to the gate five minutes to seven. There were masked DSS men there and the Nigeria Police. But we are in now and waiting for our colleagues. They (security agents) gave us a condition.
They said the building will be open by 9:00 am and that they have a list that contains those (lawmakers) that will be allowed to go in“.
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