Police: Stolen mace recovered under flyover bridge

The Nigerian police have announced the recovery of the senate’s stolen mace at a flyover before the Abuja city gate.

Aremu Adeniran, deputy force public relations officer force headquarters, said a “patriotic passerby” saw the mace and alerted the police.

Ovie Omo-Agege, suspended Delta senator, allegedly led unidentified persons to the upper legislative chamber to seize the mace on Wednesday.

After the incident and the ensuing uproar, the senator was taken into police custody but was later released.

The police in a statement explained how the mace was recovered and said that “a discreet investigation” into the matter was ongoing.

“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 lock-down of the FCT with intense surveillance patrol and thorough stop and search operations at various police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen mace,” the statement said.

“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.”