Anambra Assembly security confronts DSS, foils lawmaker�s arrest

There was pandemonium at the Anambra State House of Assembly, on Thursday, as men suspected to be operatives from the Department of State Services attempted to arrest the lawmaker-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Mr Onyekachukwu Ike.

It was gathered that the heavily-armed security men drove into the Assembly complex in three vehicles and grabbed the lawmaker-elect after he participated in a valedictory thanksgiving mass for the outgoing Seventh Assembly.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that �The armed men drove into the Assembly complex in three vehicles and grabbed the member-elect after he participated in a valedictory thanksgiving service for the Seventh Assembly.

�They bundled the member-elect into their vehicle and were trying to drive out of the Assembly complex when security personnel quickly blocked and locked the exit gate of the chamber.�

No one could ascertain the reason for the development, but one of the suspected DSS operatives, was heard explaining to the lawmakers that they had a court order to arrest the member-elect.

It took the intervention of the Speaker, Dr Uche Okafor, and the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, who came to represent Governor Chukwuma Soludo at the valedictory session of the Assembly, to stop the security agents from taking the lawmaker-elect away.

The acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Esther Aneto, and other senior staff said the security operatives did not inform the lawmakers or even the police personnel before trying to whisk away their guest.

When contacted on the development, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, saying the matter had been resolved.

�No cause for alarm, it has been resolved. I think it was the DSS operatives that were on that mission, but I think everything has been resolved. I was told that the Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the House intervened.

�So, everything was resolved but I don�t know the circumstances surrounding serving him (Ike) invitation,� Ikenga added.