Kogi assembly invasion: 10 arrested, IGP summons speaker, others

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has summoned the speaker of the Kogi state house of assembly, Matthew Kolawole, and two other members of the house over the invasion of the assembly complex by suspected hoodlums early in the month.

This is just as the police has arrested at least 10 people in connection with the attack during which the member representing Igalamela/Odolu state constituency, Friday Sani, was attacked and seriously wounded.

Also summoned along with the speaker were the majority leader of the house, Hassan Abdullahi and the member representing Ankpa 1 state constituency, Ahmed Mohammed.

Tribune Online gathered that the lawmakers hurriedly left for Abuja after sitting on Thursday to explain their roles in the crisis that engulfed the house on August 1.

Their invitation, according to sources, may not be unconnected with the report made by Sani, who accused the said members as the masterminds of the attack on him.

It was learnt that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrived Lokoja on Wednesday and arrested about 10 people, who allegedly participated in the attack on assembly, at the commissioners’ quarters

The involvement of the federal police officers was said to be sequel to the complaints by stakeholders over the roles played by the men of the Kogi state command during the attack.

It was also reliably gathered that the people that were picked up were identified through the video recordings of the activities in the house on the day of the invasion.

The state assembly was attacked on the August 1 by some suspected thugs, destroyed assembly chamber and damaged vehicles, while the police drafted to the scene watched them without acting.

The development in the assembly, it was gathered, had started having effects on some men and officers of the police command as many of those attached to the assembly have been removed.

According to the sources, the MoPol Commander in the state was removed and transferred from the state as his men were alleged to have supervised the invasion of the assembly by the suspected thugs.

But when contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the command, Wilson Inalegwu, said he was not aware of the arrest nor the summon of the lawmakers.

However, the police boss did not rule out the possibility of the action by officer from the force headquarters.

He said, “I am not aware, but it is possible that they must have come to pick them without his knowledge.”

 Tribune.