Police Fires Teargas At Niger State Legislators

Police officers on Wednesday used teargas to disperse
members and workers of the Niger State House of
Assembly, who resumed duty at the complex. The police
action is taking place barely 24 hours after the ousted
Speaker, Adamu Usman, was impeached and a new speaker
sworn in.
The new leadership and members, led by the Speaker, Hon.
Isah Kawu, were barred from gaining entrance into the
Assembly Complex by the police who put the gate under
lock and chains.
As the legislators tried to break the padlock, the police used
teargas to disperse them, thereby causing pandemonium in
Minna, the state capital.
When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public
Relations Officer, Ibrahim Gambari, said there was no such
order that policemen should deprive workers and members
of the House but that the men of the Force were ordered to
stop vandals from taking over the complex.
According to Gambari: “Those people are not members of
the House of Assembly or workers at the Assembly.
“They are vandals.
“Our men are there to stop vandals from destroying
properties and causing problems.
“We only asked them to ensure peace and orderliness.
“The teargas is to scare them away because they were
already trying to force themselves to gain access into the
premises.”