Operatives of the Department of States Services (DSS) on Thursday invaded the Anambra State House of Assembly complex and made an attempt to whisk away one of the lawmakers-elect.
The incident which caused huge commotion ensued as the lawmaker-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Mr Onyekachukwu Ike, was arrested by the operatives and bundled into the trunk of a car driven by the operatives, and made to leave the complex before they were stopped.
This happened while a valedictory thanksgiving mass for the seventh Assembly was still going on at the Assembly Complex.
An eyewitness told Channels TV that “Security men at the gate of the house, upon noticing it, shut the gate and refused the operatives the opportunity of driving out with the lawmaker-elect.
“The incident happened after the arrested lawmaker-elect participated in a valedictory thanksgiving service for the outgoing seventh assembly.
“The Deputy Governor, Onyekachi Ibezim, who came to represent the governor at the session, and the outgoing Speaker, Mr Uche Okafor, quickly intervened, and Mr Ike was released.”
The Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Esther Aneto and other senior staff were quoted as saying that the operatives did not inform them or even the police personnel before trying to whisk away the lawmaker-elect.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, noted that the matter had been resolved.
“There is no cause for alarm, it has been resolved. I think it was DSS that was on that mission, but I think everything has been resolved. I was told that the deputy governor and speaker of the house intervened. So, everything was resolved, but I don’t know the circumstances surrounding serving him (Ike) invitation.”